used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
acresnounUS /ˈeɪkərz/
extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
(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 On all sides it was the same.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
completely unclothed
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
Dudley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
fast-thickening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
fortressnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
grey-greenadjective
of green tinged with grey
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
grotesqueadjectiveUS /ɡroʊˈtesk/
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
hayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
heavy-shouldered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
herdnounUS /hɜːrd/
a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
inexpressiblyadverb
to an inexpressible degree
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On all sides it was the same.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On all sides it was the same.
on one occasion
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
in other respects or ways
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
park-land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
by chance
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
Identical; not different.
From this reading On all sides it was the same.
except for; apart from
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On all sides it was the same.
having a supporting base
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
stretchesnounUS /ˈstretʃəz/
plural of “stretch” — a large and unbroken expanse or distance
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading In the centre of this desolation, standing in a thousand acres of its own land, was the mansion, Black Dudley; a great grey building, bare and ugly as a fortress.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading Miles of neglected park-land stretched in an unbroken plain to the horizon and the sea beyond.
uncroppedadjective
not used for growing crops
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
which person or people
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressibly lonely.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The grey-green stretches were hayed once a year, perhaps, but otherwise uncropped save by the herd of heavy-shouldered black cattle who wandered about them, their huge forms immense and grotesque in the fast-thickening twilight.
