used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
completely unclothed
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
Beauce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
Borderie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
clovernounUS /ˈkloʊvər/
a plant of the genus Trifolium
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/
(of time) having passed or slipped by
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
the male ruler of an empire
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
fallowsnounUS /ˈfæloʊz/
plural of “fallow” — cultivated land that is not seeded for one or more growing seasons
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
Firmin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
flecknounUS /flek/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
flocksnounUS /flɑːks/
plural of “flock” — a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
grazedadjectiveUS /ɡreɪzd/
scraped or touched lightly in passing
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
harvestnounUS /ˈhɑːrvəst/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
ten 10s
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
lambsnounUS /læmz/
plural of “lamb” — young sheep
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
immediately past
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
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 Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
lucern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
MassacreverbUS /ˈmæsəkər/
kill a large number of people indiscriminately
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading This was the terrible season of the year.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
shearingnounUS /ˈʃɪrɪŋ/
removing by cutting off or clipping
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
shepherdnounUS /ˈʃepərd/
a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
Soulas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
strippedadjectiveUS /strɪpt/
having only essential or minimal features
From this reading The fields of La Beauce lay stripped and desolate and bare, without a single fleck of green about them.
stubblenounUS /ˈstʌbəl/
material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
swine-herd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading This was the terrible season of the year.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After the shearing and the sale of the lambs in May, Soulas, the shepherd, had removed the sheep from La Borderie.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the terrible season of the year.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
UntilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was the terrible season of the year.
waste-lands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Until August the flocks grazed in the fallows amongst the clover and lucern, or in the waste-lands along the roads; and barely three weeks had now elapsed since he had turned them out into the stubble, immediately after the harvest, in the last blazing days of September.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Nearly four hundred head there were, which he led away without any other assistance than that of the little swine-herd Firmin, and his two formidable dogs, Emperor and Massacre.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading This was the terrible season of the year.
