used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
carrionnounUS /ˈkeriən/
the dead and rotting body of an animal; unfit for human food
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
cowsnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
craggyadjectiveUS /ˈkræɡi/
having hills and crags
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
crowsnounUS /kroʊz/
plural of “crow” — black birds having a raucous call
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
discernsverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrnz/
third-person singular of “discern” — detect with the senses
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
dottedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːtəd/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
eaglenounUS /ˈiːɡəl/
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
feedingnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST SUCCESS.
flappingnounUS /ˈflæpɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
gorgesnounUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəz/
plural of “gorge” — a deep ravine (usually with a river running through it)
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
hollowsnounUS /ˈhɑːloʊz/
plural of “hollow” — a cavity or space in something
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
impureadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpjʊr/
combined with extraneous elements
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
kinglyadjectiveUS /ˈkɪŋli/
having the rank of or resembling or befitting a king
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
and nothing more
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
pasturesnounUS /ˈpæstʃərz/
plural of “pasture” — a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
peacefullyadverbUS /ˈpiːsfəli/
in a peaceful manner
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
by chance
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
quarrynounUS /ˈkwɔːri/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
repastnoun
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
move upward
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
satedverbUS /ˈseɪtɪd/
past form of “sate” — fill to satisfaction
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
soarverbUS /sɔːr/
rise rapidly
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
the season of growth
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading THE FIRST SUCCESS.
summitsnounUS /ˈsʌmɪts/
plural of “summit” — the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST SUCCESS.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is closed in by hills green to their summits, with only a few patches of snow in their hollows.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
vulturesnounUS /ˈvʌltʃərz/
plural of “vulture” — any of various large diurnal birds of prey having naked heads and weak claws and feeding chiefly on carrion
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
wateredadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːtərd/
(of silk fabric) having a wavelike pattern
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
which person or people
From this reading Behind these soar craggy and fearful rocks, above which wheel one or two vultures, and high overhead the kingly eagle; who perhaps discerns some human quarry in the depths below.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Dead bodies must certainly be lying here and there in the gorges; for now and then carrion crows, sated with their impure repast, rise slowly on their flapping wings, and fly heavily away.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The warm spring sun is shining on a valley watered by more than one winding river, and with green pastures dotted with cows and sheep peacefully feeding.
