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The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.
The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.
The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.
At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.
With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 4

Chapter IV

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.
Line 2
The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.
Line 3
The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.
Line 4
At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.
Line 5
With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.”

Leafless adjective US /ˈliːfləs/

having no leaves, usually because of the season

From this reading “The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.”

All words in this reading · 129

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

adjoining

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

air

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

all

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

Angelus

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

apart

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

apple-gardens

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

Autumn

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

back

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

bare

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

bent

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

branches

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

brown

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

call

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

cast

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

child

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

clothes

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

colza

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

continuous

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

covered

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

cushions

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

down

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

dress

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

drove

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

earth

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

evening

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

fall

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

fallen

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

farm-houses

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

fields

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

five

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

formed

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

grass

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

gray

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

heap

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

heavy

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

hole

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

humid

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

just

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

lands

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/

having no leaves, usually because of the season

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

leaves

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

legs

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

made

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

male

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

moist

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

more

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

movement

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

now

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

odor

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

once

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

peasants

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

picking

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

plain

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

plant

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

playing

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

plow

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

potato

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

protected

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

road

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

roofs

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

root

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

rumps

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

sad

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

sank

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

scattered

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

seated

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

sharp

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

side

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

sky

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

slow

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

small

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

sprigs

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

stagnant

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

stakes

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

stroke

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

thatched

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

then

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

there

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

thick

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

From this reading The odor of Autumn, the sad odor of bare, moist lands, of fallen leaves, of dead grass, made the stagnant evening air more thick and heavy.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

trees

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

turned

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

up

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

vast

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

very

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

visible

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

waiting

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

weigh

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

From this reading The humid, gray sky seemed to weigh down on the vast brown plain.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

withered

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

women

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

From this reading At the side of the road, on a heap of clothes, a very small male child seated with its legs apart, was playing with a potato, which he now and then let fall on his dress, while five women bent down with their rumps in the air, were picking sprigs of colza in the adjoining plain.

wooden

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

From this reading With a slow continuous movement, all along the great cushions of earth which the plow had just turned up, they drove in sharp wooden stakes, and then cast at once into the hole so formed the plant, already a little withered, which sank on the side; then they covered over the root, and went on with their work.

work

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

From this reading The peasants were still at work, scattered through the fields, waiting for the stroke of the Angelus to call them back to the farm-houses, whose thatched roofs were visible here and there through the branches of the leafless trees which protected the apple-gardens against the wind.