used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
(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 _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
on or to one side
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Well then, help me to make them, said the child.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
recognizable; marked
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They sat down together.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
a boy or man
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
FlaxnounUS /flæks/
fiber of the flax plant that is made into thread and woven into linen fabric
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
Fritz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
goatsnounUS /ɡoʊts/
plural of “goat” — any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Well then, help me to make them, said the child.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
in the recent past
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
engage in
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Well then, help me to make them, said the child.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
pasturenounUS /ˈpæstʃər/
a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
pliableadjectiveUS /ˈplaɪəbəl/
susceptible to being led or directed
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
ribbandnoun
a ribbon used as a decoration
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They sat down together.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
in the near future
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
sword-grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
sword-leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
carry out
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It had been lately decided that it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They sat down together.
toysnounUS /tɔɪz/
plural of “toy” — an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
the act of using
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
(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 Well then, help me to make them, said the child.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
whipsnounUS /wɪps/
plural of “whip” — an instrument with a handle and a flexible lash that is used for whipping
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
which person or people
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _Flax, and the rainy season._ Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, and then like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Fritz picked up some of them that were quite soft and withered; he held up one which was pliable as a ribband in the hand: My little fellow, said he to his brother, you can make whips of your sword-grass, take up the leaves and keep them for this purpose, they will be of use in driving your goats and sheep.
