used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
(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 The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The mill ceased its rumbling.
chirped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
clickingverbUS /ˈklɪkɪŋ/
-ing form of “click” — move or strike with a noise
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
daybreaknounUS /ˈdeɪbreɪk/
the first light of day
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
dippingverbUS /ˈdɪpɪŋ/
inflected form of “dip” — immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
FiddlernounUS /ˈfɪdələr/
a musician who plays the violin
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
flatsnounUS /flæts/
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
formlessadjective
having no definite form or distinct shape
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
GumnounUS /ɡʌm/
a preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
Hiram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The mill ceased its rumbling.
larknounUS /lɑːrk/
North American songbirds having a yellow breast
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
immediately past
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
meadownounUS /ˈmedoʊ/
a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
merrilyadverbUS /ˈmerəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
millverbUS /mɪl/
move about in a confused manner
From this reading The mill ceased its rumbling.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
mowernounUS /ˈmoʊər/
garden tool for mowing grass on lawns
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
nosesnounUS /ˈnoʊzɪz/
plural of “nose” — the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
playfullyadverbUS /ˈpleɪfəli/
in a playful manner
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
plovernounUS /ˈplʌvər/
any of numerous chiefly shorebirds of relatively compact build having straight bills and large pointed wings; closely related to the sandpipers
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
robinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
rumblingnounUS /ˈrʌmbəlɪŋ/
a loud low dull continuous noise
From this reading The mill ceased its rumbling.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
snipeverbUS /snaɪp/
hunt or shoot snipe
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
sparrowsnounUS /ˈsperoʊz/
plural of “sparrow” — any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
swaths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading _Hiram Gum, the Fiddler._ The last red rays of the evening sun disappeared below the mountains and the gray twilight settled over the valley.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The mower that all day long had been clicking merrily in the meadow behind the store stood silent in the swaths, and the horses that had drawn it were playfully dipping their noses in the cool waters of the creek.
whippoorwillnoun
American nocturnal goatsucker with grey-and-white plumage
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading The birds--the plover, the lark and the snipe that had whistled since daybreak over the fields and the robins and sparrows that had chirped overhead in the trees--had long since made themselves comfortable for the impending night.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading By and by the woods beyond the flats assumed a formless blackness and from their dark midst came the lonely call of the whippoorwill.
