Chapter VI · Chapter 6

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

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

third-person singular of “accompany” — be present or associated with an event or entity

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

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

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

a cherished desire

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

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

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

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

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

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

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

a structure or object that impedes free movement

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

of or relating to or belonging to the genus Bos

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

plural of “concern” — something that interests you because it is important or affects you

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

the state of containing nothing

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

the totality of surrounding conditions

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

having lost your job

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

third-person singular of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

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

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

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

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

all of the living human inhabitants of the earth

From this reading They leave their mark upon humans--these periods of isolation.

in an imperceptible manner or to an imperceptible degree

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

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

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

plural of “incident” — a single distinct event

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

in such a manner as could not be otherwise

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

plural of “influence” — a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

a state of separation between persons or groups

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

go away from a place

From this reading They leave their mark upon humans--these periods of isolation.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

attach a tag or label to

From this reading They leave their mark upon humans--these periods of isolation.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

the quality of wearisome constancy, routine, and lack of variety

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

plural of “oasis” — a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

by chance

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

plural of “period” — an amount of time

From this reading They leave their mark upon humans--these periods of isolation.

showing little emotion

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

located or moved above the surround or above the normal position

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

plural of “resolve” — the trait of being resolute

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

worried and uneasy

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

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

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

a following of one thing after another in time

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

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

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

a quantity much larger than is needed

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

for a limited time only; not permanently

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

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

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They leave their mark upon humans--these periods of isolation.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading They leave their mark upon humans--these periods of isolation.

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

From this reading They leave their mark upon humans--these periods of isolation.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

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

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

in a uniform manner

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading They leave their mark upon humans--these periods of isolation.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

in or at the place that

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

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

From this reading A man or a ranch may experience complete isolation, and the unbroken monotony which sometimes accompanies it, for a month at a time.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading A MATTER OF TWELVE MONTHS OR SO Out in the wide spaces, where homes are but scattered oases in the general emptiness, life does not move uniformly, so far as it concerns incidents or acquaintanceships.

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

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

in the company of; together with

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Summer work or winter storm may be the barrier temporarily raised, and life resolves itself into a succession of days and nights unbroken by outside influences.

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading For better, for worse, the man changes slowly with the months; he grows more bovine in his phlegmatic acceptance of his environment, or he becomes restless and fired with a surplus energy of ambition, or he falls to dreaming dreams; whatever angle he takes, he changes, imperceptibly perhaps, but inevitably.