Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

later than; following

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

wood of any of various alder trees; resistant to underwater rot; used for bridges etc

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

plural of “alien” — a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

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

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

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

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

having a back or backing, usually of a specified type

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

plural of “beater” — a worker who rouses wild game from under cover for a hunter

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

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

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

inflected form of “bid” — propose a payment

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

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

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

-ing form of “blunder” — commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

a flock of coots

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

the first light of day

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

the state of being decayed or destroyed

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

(of sounds) repeating by reflection

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

having escaped, especially from confinement

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

adorned with feathers or plumes

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

plural of “fell” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

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

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

having a pattern of dots

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

made afraid

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

in a gay manner

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

flesh of any of various grouse of the family Tetraonidae; usually roasted; flesh too dry to broil

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

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

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

plural of “hare” — swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

someone unfortunate without housing

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

done or made using whatever is available

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

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

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

a field of cultivated and mowed grass

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

plural of “loader” — a laborer who loads and unloads vessels in a port

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

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

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

wild dabbling duck from which domestic ducks are descended; widely distributed

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

very unhappy; full of misery

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

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

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

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

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

large long-tailed gallinaceous bird native to the Old World but introduced elsewhere

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

plural of “pheasant” — large long-tailed gallinaceous bird native to the Old World but introduced elsewhere

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

cover with planks

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

plural of “reach” — the limits within which something can be effective

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

plural of “rocket” — any vehicle self-propelled by a rocket engine

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

plural of “setter” — one who sets written material into type

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

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

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

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 So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

directed toward heaven or the sky

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

emitting or containing little or no smoke

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

marked by the presence of snow

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

make steady

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

plural of “swamp” — low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

in a swift manner

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

in a confused mass

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

a blue-green color or pigment

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

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

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

of or relating to or caused by tides

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

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

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

an act that makes a previous act of no effect (as if not done)

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

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

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

uncontrollably noisy

From this reading So the first week of the season sped gaily, ending on Saturday with a heavy flight of northern woodcock and an uproarious fusillade among the silver birches.

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

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

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

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

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

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

in or at the place that

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

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

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

during the time that

From this reading There was a pheasant drive at Black Fells to which the Ferralls' guests were bidden by Beverly Plank--a curious scene, where ladies and gentlemen stood on a lawn, backed by an army of loaders and gun-bearers, while another improvised army of beaters drove some thousands of frightened, bewildered, homeless foreign pheasants at the guns.

United States writer and dramatist (1897-1975)

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

fruit that has fallen from the tree

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The week passed swiftly, day after day echoing with the steady fusillade from marsh to covert, from valley to ridge.

resist or confront with resistance

From this reading And the miserable aliens that escaped the guns were left to perish in the desolation of a coming winter which they were unfitted to withstand.

game bird of the sandpiper family that resembles a snipe

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

but in spite of that

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading Guns flashed at dawn and dusk along the flat tidal reaches haunted of black mallard and teal; the smokeless powder cracked through alder swamp and tangled windfall where the brown grouse burst away into noisy blundering flight; where the woodcock, wilder now, shrilled skyward like feathered rockets, and the big northern hares, not yet flecked with snowy patches of fur, loped off into swamps to the sad undoing of several of the younger setters.