Chapter XVII · Black Ruin

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

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

Having no one else present.

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

in addition

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

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

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

formed or made thin by hammering

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

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

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

without doubt; certainly

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

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

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

destroyed or killed

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

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

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

a storm during which hail falls

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

the yield from plants in a single growing season

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

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

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

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

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

used to form the superlative

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

above and across; more than

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

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

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

past form of “rage” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

(often followed by “with”) damaged throughout by numerous perforations or holes

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

being ten more than fifty

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

the act of spending or disbursing money

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

occupy a large, elongated area

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading It was black ruin for most, and it had come as suddenly as a bolt from heaven might have done.

past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

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

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

having no roof

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

up to a particular time

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

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

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

becoming weaker

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

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

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.

annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

which person or people

From this reading IT was not the Ellises alone who suffered on that disastrous Sunday before harvest.

belonging to which person

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

(politics) a state of disfavor

From this reading The hailstorm had raged over a district about five miles broad and sixty long, spending itself finally over a stretch of swamp away in the wilderness.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Every man whose land was within the area of the storm had his wheat beaten flat, twisted, cut, and riddled, until there was nothing left that was fit for gathering in.

destroyed in an accident

From this reading In Pentland Broads half the houses had been unroofed, some of them, indeed, were entirely wrecked; but its force was weakening somewhat by the time it reached Duck Flats, or doubtless the house there must have gone also.