Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

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

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

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

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

(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 Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

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

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

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

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

installation from which a military force initiates operations

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

jutting or overhanging

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

a series of things depending on each other as if linked together

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

not subject or susceptible to change or variation in form or quality or nature

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

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

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

uncannily or threateningly dark or obscure

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

the act of clasping another person in the arms (as in greeting or affection)

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

possessive form of “fisher” — someone whose occupation is catching fish

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

enclose in or as if in a frame

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

covered with beads or jewels or sequins

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

a river that rises in western Massachusetts and flows south through Connecticut to empty into Long Island Sound

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

plural of “let” — a brutal terrorist group active in Kashmir; fights against India with the goal of restoring Islamic rule of India

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

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 first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

feeling or showing love and affection

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

plural of “peak” — the most extreme possible amount or value

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

abounding in small stones

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

a small lake

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

except for; apart from

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

plural of “shoal” — a sandbank in a stretch of water that is visible at low tide

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation

From this reading Then, as now, many a lake and pond gemmed the landscape, and many a brook hung like a burnished silver chain upon the verdant slopes.

to, toward, or in the southeast

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

not in physical motion

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

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

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

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

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

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

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

characterized by abundance of verdure

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

precisely as stated

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

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

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.

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

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

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

From this reading The first beams of the sun of August 17, 1777, were glancing down the long valley, which opening to the East, lets in the early rays of morning, upon the village of Stockbridge.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then, as now, the Housatonic crept still and darkling around the beetling base of Fisher's Nest, and in the meadows laughed above its pebbly shoals, embracing the verdant fields with many a loving curve.

plural of “wolf” — any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs

From this reading Then, as now, the mountains cradled the valley in their eternal arms, all round, from the Hill of the Wolves, on the north, to the peaks that guard the Ice Glen, away to the far south-east.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But save for this changeless frame of nature, there was very little, in the village, which the modern dweller in Stockbridge would recognize.