Chapter VII · Chapter 7

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For more than a week there had been no rain to speak of.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

plural of “bramble” — any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

in a courageous manner

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

any of several erect biennial herbs of temperate Eurasia having stout taproots and producing burs

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

characterized by great determination

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

having a pattern of dots

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For more than a week there had been no rain to speak of.

the part of a scene that is near the viewer

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

plural of “geranium” — any of numerous plants of the family Geraniaceae

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

destroyed or killed

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

grass mowed and cured for use as fodder

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

game equipment consisting of an open ring of iron used in playing horseshoes

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

a long narrow inlet of the sea in Scotland (especially when it is nearly landlocked)

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

engage in

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading For more than a week there had been no rain to speak of.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

not any; not one

From this reading For more than a week there had been no rain to speak of.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

a purple color or pigment

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

widespread European weed having yellow daisylike flowers; sometimes an obnoxious weed and toxic to cattle if consumed in quantity

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading For more than a week there had been no rain to speak of.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

possessing material wealth

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

a small hard fruit

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

of a light brownish color

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

express in speech

From this reading For more than a week there had been no rain to speak of.

-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

plural of “stalk” — material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading For more than a week there had been no rain to speak of.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

in or at that place or location

From this reading For more than a week there had been no rain to speak of.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

plural of “tuft” — a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

still full

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

precisely as stated

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading For more than a week there had been no rain to speak of.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

in or at the place that

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.

belonging to which person

From this reading The grass had gone to seed and turned a rich reddish purple; beneath it grew wild geraniums whose leaves were already scarlet.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading They had reached a place where a wide horseshoe of beach ran down to the loch.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the back stretched a meadow, part of which had been cut for hay; the rest of it was so full of weeds and wild flowers, ragweed, burdock and the red stalks of sorrel, that it had been left untouched, and filled the foreground with colour.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading The season as a whole had been dry, and the water was very low; tufts of grass dotted the shore; brambles and young alders were springing up bravely, determined to make the most of their time.