used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
arterialadjectiveUS /ɑːrˈtɪriəl/
of or involving or contained in the arteries
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
brightestadjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtəst/
superlative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
brooksnounUS /brʊks/
United States literary critic and historian (1886-1963)
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
burredadjective
having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Orianda loved it.
buzzedverbUS /bʌzd/
past form of “buzz” — make a buzzing sound
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/
join tongue and groove, in carpentry
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
flowedverbUS /floʊd/
past form of “flow” — move or progress freely as if in a stream
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
grasshoppersnounUS /ˈɡræshɑːpərz/
plural of “grasshopper” — terrestrial plant-eating insect with hind legs adapted for leaping
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
harboured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
leaguesnounUS /liːɡz/
plural of “league” — an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
held dear
From this reading But Orianda loved it.
markingnounUS /ˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
a distinguishing symbol
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
marshesnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəz/
plural of “marsh” — low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
millionsnounUS /ˈmɪljənz/
plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
in motion
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
mustyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌsti/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
and nothing more
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
Orianda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
pasturenounUS /ˈpæstʃər/
a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
picnicnounUS /ˈpɪknɪk/
a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
placingverbUS /ˈpleɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “place” — put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
populousadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːpjələs/
densely populated
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
quadrillions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
get rid of
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
veinsnounUS /veɪnz/
plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading The vast area of coarse pasture harboured not a single farmhouse, only a shed here and there marking a particular field, for a thousand shallow brooks flowed like veins from all directions to the arterial river moving through its silent leagues.
migratory
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Orianda, placing the feather in his hat, told him it was probably wandering to find home.
waspnounUS /wɑːsp/
a white person of Anglo-Saxon ancestry who belongs to a Protestant denomination
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading “What a fool that wasp is,” declared Gerald, “I wonder what it is doing?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading One day, brightest of all days, they went to picnic in the marshes, a strange place to choose, all rank with the musty smell of cattle, and populous with grasshoppers that burred below you and millions, quadrillions of flies that buzzed above.
