Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

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

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

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

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

a person with fair skin and hair

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

favorite

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

-ing form of “converse” — carry on a conversation

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

the appearance conveyed by a person's face

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

inflected form of “dip” — immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

in a serious manner

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

construct, build, or erect

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

nonresinous wood of a fir tree

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

a person of German nationality

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

the act of giving

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

immediately past

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

the force of workers available

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

become covered with mist

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

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

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

above and across; more than

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

filled with shade

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

toward the south

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

a moving crowd

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

of the highest quality

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

exhibiting the qualities or characteristics that identify a group or kind or category

From this reading He was blonde and blue-eyed, not handsome, but with a strong and speaking countenance; a typical German in form and feature.

always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The grey mist of an autumn morning lay upon forest and field.

a state of depression

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading Through its shadowy vapors a swarm of birds were sweeping by, on their Southward way, now dipping low over the tops of the tall fir forest, as if giving a last greeting to their summer homes, and then rising high in the air; turning their flight due South, they disappeared slowly through the fog.

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

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

belonging to which person

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the window of a large manor-house, which lay at the edge of the forest, two men stood, watching the course of the birds and conversing earnestly with each other.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading One was a tall, stalwart figure, whose firm and erect bearing betokened the soldier fully as much as the uniform he wore.