used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading The voice was not so imperative now, but it begged and implored him to hasten.
birch-grove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
a youthful male person
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The voice was not so imperative now, but it begged and implored him to hasten.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
Börje
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
errandsnounUS /ˈerəndz/
plural of “errand” — a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
farmyardnounUS /ˈfɑːrmjɑːrd/
an area adjacent to farm buildings
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
fetchedverbUS /fetʃt/
past form of “fetch” — go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
hastenverbUS /ˈheɪsən/
act or move at high speed
From this reading The voice was not so imperative now, but it begged and implored him to hasten.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading The voice was not so imperative now, but it begged and implored him to hasten.
imploredverbUS /ˌɪmˈplɔːrd/
past form of “implore” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading The voice was not so imperative now, but it begged and implored him to hasten.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
JannounUS /dʒæn/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
Lars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
needlessadjectiveUS /ˈniːdləs/
unnecessary and unwarranted
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The voice was not so imperative now, but it begged and implored him to hasten.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The voice was not so imperative now, but it begged and implored him to hasten.
express in speech
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
threshingnoun
the separation of grain or seeds from the husks and straw
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Knowing this he went immediately on his other errand, and fetched the hired boy.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And while Jan ran these needless errands, the faint voice under the spruce branches rang in his ears.
which person or people
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He thought it mighty strange that Lars had not told him to speak to Börje, who was threshing in the barn close by, instead of sending him after the hired boy, who was at work out in the birch-grove, a good way from the farmyard.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would not have been well for Jan had he offered to help Lars.
