Chapter XXVII · Chapter 27

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

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

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

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

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

From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

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

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.

a small inlet

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.

subject to or used in the process of finishing or fattening up for slaughter

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

any federal law-enforcement officer

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

marked by or showing hopelessness

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

past form of “gallop” — ride at a galloping pace

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

past form of “grunt” — issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

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

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

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

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

take greedily; take more than one's share

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

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

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

immediately past

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

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 MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

held up in the air

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

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

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

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

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

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

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

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

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

completely unclothed

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

on the contrary

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

cut with a saw

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.

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

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

a step in walking or running

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

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

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

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

From this reading A few cattle fed in the meadow next the river, a fattening hog lifted himself from his bed of straw and grunted at them as they passed.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

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

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

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 The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

being four more than twenty

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

in a vague way

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.

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

From this reading Nothing was changed, though, as far as she could see.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading MARTHY Billy Louise led the way down the gorge, through the meadow, and along the orchard to the little gate.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The Cove seemed empty and rather forlorn, with the wind creeping up the river and rattling the dry branches of the naked fruit trees.

but in spite of that

From this reading Not much more than twenty-four hours had slid into the past since Billy Louise had galloped away from the place, yet she felt vaguely that life had taken a big stride here since she last saw it.