Chapter I

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

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

(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 It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

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

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

plural of “army” — a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

formed or made thin by hammering

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

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

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

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

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

plural of “cottage” — a small house with a single story

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

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

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

being one more than seventeen

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

having escaped, especially from confinement

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

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

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

apart from; not including

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

house for a farmer and family

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

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

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

possessive form of “grand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

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

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

not solid; having a space or gap or cavity

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

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

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

ten 10s

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

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

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

the sound of laughing

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

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

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

with fondness; with love

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

-ing form of “low” — make a low noise, characteristic of bovines

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

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

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

used to form the superlative

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

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

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

not any; not one

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

occurring from time to time

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

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

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

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

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

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

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

for a short time

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

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

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

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

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The bees hummed in the garden, and there was no other sound except the lowing of the cattle and the occasional merry noise of children's laughter.

having come into contact

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

having tucked or being tucked

From this reading It seemed strange that the little farmhouse had escaped observation, for most of the farms and cottages round had soldiers quartered in them, but le Grand's house was tucked away in the hollow of a hill and was far off the beaten track, about fifteen miles from the town of Nivelle.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

precisely as stated

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

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

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

a town in central Belgium where in 1815 Napoleon met his final defeat

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

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

From this reading G. Manville Fenn, D. H. Parry, G. A. Henty, Sheila Braine, L. L. Weedon, etc.

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

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

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

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading IT was early June in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and the warm sun shone down upon the little farmhouse of Monsieur le Grand and touched the old red brick walls lovingly.

but in spite of that

From this reading It all seemed very peaceful and quiet, and yet a short distance away two great armies were preparing for the great battle which was shortly afterwards fought upon the field of Waterloo.