used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
Beauce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
by-and-bye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
CartsnounUS /kɑːrts/
plural of “cart” — a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
cattle-sheds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
decomposedverbUS /ˌdiːkəmˈpoʊzd/
past form of “decompose” — separate (substances) into constituent elements or parts
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
dungnounUS /dʌŋ/
fecal matter of animals
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
fermentingnounUS /fərˈmentɪŋ/
a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
fertilitynounUS /fərˈtɪləti/
the ratio of live births in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 population per year
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
not accessible to view
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
lumberingnounUS /ˈlʌmbərɪŋ/
the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
manurenounUS /məˈnʊr/
any animal or plant material used to fertilize land especially animal excreta usually with litter material
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
the force of workers available
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
on one occasion
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/
venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
ploughingnoun
tilling the land with a plow
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
PrioradjectiveUS /ˈpraɪər/
earlier in time
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
reeked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
possessing material wealth
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
smokyadjectiveUS /ˈsmoʊki/
marked by or emitting or filled with smoke
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
soiledadjectiveUS /sɔɪld/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
the season of growth
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
stablesnounUS /ˈsteɪbəlz/
plural of “stable” — a farm building for housing horses or other livestock
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
surgingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrdʒɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
vapournoun
a visible suspension in the air of particles of some substance
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading From end to end of the vast plain the air reeked with the strong odour of the dung, which by-and-bye would bring forth bread for men.
vehiclesnounUS /ˈviːhɪkəlz/
plural of “vehicle” — a conveyance that transports people or objects
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Prior to the ploughing, La Beauce, stretched beneath the grey, damp, November sky, was hidden from sight by a covering of manure.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Little piles of litter from cattle-sheds and stables rose up over certain fields like surging waves, while on other patches the manure had already been spread out, and soiled the land with a dingy flood.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Carts were lumbering along the country roads, piled up with old straw litter, which filled the air with a smoky vapour; it was as though the vehicles were bearing a supply of heat to the soil.
wombnounUS /wuːm/
a hollow muscular organ in the pelvic cavity of females; contains the developing fetus
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In this mass of fermenting dung the rich fertility of the coming spring lay brooding; the decomposed matter was returning to the universal womb, and life would once more spring from death.
