used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
react verbally
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
barnsnounUS /bɑːrnz/
plural of “barn” — an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
Beauce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
Borderie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
breadthnounUS /bredθ/
the capacity to understand a broad range of topics
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
the act of breaking something
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
cart-entrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
clarionverbUS /ˈkleriən/
blow the clarion
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
ClosingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
cockverbUS /kɑːk/
tilt or slant to one side
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
cow-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
the first light of day
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
dwelling-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
glimmeringnounUS /ˈɡlɪmərɪŋ/
a slight suggestion or vague understanding
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
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 Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
manure-pit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
a light shade of red
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
reveillenounUS /ˈrevəliː/
(military) signal to wake up
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
sheep-cot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Closing the fourth side, the cart-entrance was shut, and secured by an iron bar.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
make square
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
not in physical motion
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A second cock made answer, then a third, and thus the call was caught up and passed on from farm to farm throughout the length and breadth of La Beauce.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was four o'clock; the dawn was barely breaking: the pink dawn of early May.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Under the glimmering sky the buildings of La Borderie still slept, half in gloom: three long buildings on three sides of the vast square yard, the sheep-cot at the end, the barns on the right, the cow-house, stable, and dwelling-house on the left.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading On the manure-pit a big solitary yellow cock sounded the reveille in brilliant, clarion tones.
