used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
the state of being absent
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
propose a payment
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading The wind blew his grey hair loose, but his thin features were gleaming with kindness and geniality.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
cabin-doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
capotenounUS /kəˈpoʊt/
a long overcoat with a hood that can be pulled over the head
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
decoratingverbUS /ˈdekəreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “decorate” — make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The wind blew his grey hair loose, but his thin features were gleaming with kindness and geniality.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
genialitynounUS /ˌdʒiːniˈæləti/
a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)
From this reading The wind blew his grey hair loose, but his thin features were gleaming with kindness and geniality.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading The wind blew his grey hair loose, but his thin features were gleaming with kindness and geniality.
destroyed or killed
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading The wind blew his grey hair loose, but his thin features were gleaming with kindness and geniality.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
From this reading The wind blew his grey hair loose, but his thin features were gleaming with kindness and geniality.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading The wind blew his grey hair loose, but his thin features were gleaming with kindness and geniality.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
information about recent and important events
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
held or filled or in use
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
and nothing more
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
potato-plants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
Roch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
rosarynounUS /ˈroʊzəri/
a string of beads used in counting prayers (especially by Catholics)
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
Identical; not different.
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
move hurridly
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The wind blew his grey hair loose, but his thin features were gleaming with kindness and geniality.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
tumping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
in a way that was not expected
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
accept gladly
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were but few people about, most of them being occupied tumping their potato-plants; but when, with its usual speed, the news had gone about, a good many hastened to bid him welcome after his long absence.
at the time that
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
Whitsuntidenoun
Christian holiday; the week beginning on Whitsunday (especially the first 3 days)
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind blew his grey hair loose, but his thin features were gleaming with kindness and geniality.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was only after hearing Mass, however, and having a long talk with the priest, that he went round to the village.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading He came, according to his wont, slowly, leaning on his staff, but with head erect, and wearing the same grey capote and the same rosary about his neck.
but in spite of that
From this reading The green Whitsuntide boughs, decorating the cabin-doors, had not yet quite withered, when one morning Roch dropped most unexpectedly into the village.
![The peasants, [vol. 3]](/static/images/covers-gen/the-peasants-vol-3.academy.webp)