Chapter IX

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

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

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

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

a feeling of delight at being entertained

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

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

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

happiness felt in a secure relationship

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

plural of “blade” — especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

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

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

the two together, not just one

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

a sudden desire

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

move or strike with a noise

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

(of military officers) holding by virtue of a commission a rank of second lieutenant or ensign or above

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

the first light of day

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

having the power of driving or impelling

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

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

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

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

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

brought together in one place

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

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

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

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

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

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

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

plural of “haymaker” — a farm machine that treats hay to cause more rapid and even drying

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

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

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

a large number or amount

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

succulent herbaceous vegetation of pasture land

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

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

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

set down according to a plan

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

immediately past

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

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

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

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 Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

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

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

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

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

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

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

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

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

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

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

not any; not one

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

according to the clock

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

above and across; more than

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

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

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

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

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

shielding (or designed to shield) against harm or discomfort

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

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

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

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

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

up to a particular time

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

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

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

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

From this reading For the last two days Jean had been driving the mowing-machine over the few acres of meadow belonging to La Borderie, on the banks of the Aigre.

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

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

From this reading From daybreak till night the regular click of the blades had been heard, and that morning he was getting to the end.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

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

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

From this reading The last swaths were falling into line behind the wheels, forming a layer of fine, soft, pale-green herbage.

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

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

which person or people

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Both of them had come with him at five o'clock, and, with their long forks, had laid out the _mulons_: little heaps of half-dried grass which had been gathered together over night, by way of protecting it from the night-dews.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading The farm having no hay-making machine, he had been commissioned to engage two haymakers: Palmyre, who worked to the utmost of her strength and harder than a man; and Françoise, who had got herself engaged out of caprice, finding amusement in the occupation.