used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
bleak-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
bramblesnounUS /ˈbræmbəlz/
plural of “bramble” — any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
clumpsnounUS /klʌmps/
plural of “clump” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
unvarying in nature
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
courtesynounUS /ˈkɜːrtəsi/
a courteous or respectful or considerate act
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
ditchnounUS /dɪtʃ/
a long narrow excavation in the earth
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
enclose with a fence
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
furrowverbUS /ˈfɜːroʊ/
hollow out in the form of a furrow or groove
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
brought together in one place
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
gooseberrynounUS /ˈɡuːsberi/
spiny Eurasian shrub having greenish purple-tinged flowers and ovoid yellow-green or red-purple berries
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
interspersedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈspɜːrst/
past form of “intersperse” — place at intervals in or among
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
junglenounUS /ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
loomingverbUS /ˈluːmɪŋ/
-ing form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
MistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
neglectverbUS /nəˈɡlekt/
leave undone or leave out
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
obliteratedadjectiveUS /əˈblɪtəreɪtɪd/
reduced to nothingness
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
on one occasion
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
and nothing more
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
reapedverbUS /riːpt/
past form of “reap” — gather, as of natural products
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
slatenounUS /sleɪt/
(formerly) a writing tablet made of slate
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
so-calledadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊˈkɔːld/
doubtful or suspect
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
make square
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
storeys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
stubbledadjective
having a short growth of beard
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.
trimverbUS /trɪm/
remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
turnpikenounUS /ˈtɜːrnpaɪk/
(from 16th to 19th centuries) gates set across a road to prevent passage until a toll had been paid
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
having passed out of existence
From this reading The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
waningnounUS /ˈweɪnɪŋ/
a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
From this reading On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight.
in or at the place that
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
white-washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It stood where four roads met--a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof.
