used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
(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 As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading They had not left the river more than three miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading They had not left the river more than three miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
take in liquids
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
one or the other of two
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
the organ of sight
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
provide as food
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They had not left the river more than three miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading They had not left the river more than three miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
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 They had not left the river more than three miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
oxennounUS /ˈɑːksən/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
go across or through
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
pasturagenoun
succulent herbaceous vegetation of pasture land
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
quaggas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
scanverbUS /skæn/
examine minutely or intensely
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
sterileadjectiveUS /ˈsterəl/
incapable of reproducing
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
stuntedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌntɪd/
inferior in size or quality
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had not left the river more than three miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading They had not left the river more than three miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
vestigesnounUS /ˈvestɪdʒɪz/
plural of “vestige” — an indication that something has been present
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
at the time that
From this reading They had not left the river more than three miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance.
in or at the place that
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.
yokedverbUS /joʊkt/
past form of “yoke” — become joined or linked together
From this reading There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.
