used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
aban-doned-farm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
acresnounUS /ˈeɪkərz/
extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
ancestraladjectiveUS /ænˈsestrəl/
inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That was the term most commonly used by the writers of these articles--abandoned farms going for a song.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/
under normal conditions
From this reading That was the term most commonly used by the writers of these articles--abandoned farms going for a song.
ConnecticutnounUS /kəˈnetəkət/
a New England state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
desirableadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/
worth having or seeking or achieving
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
farmsnounUS /fɑːrmz/
plural of “farm” — workplace consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
From this reading That was the term most commonly used by the writers of these articles--abandoned farms going for a song.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
the act of departing
From this reading That was the term most commonly used by the writers of these articles--abandoned farms going for a song.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
homesteadsnounUS /ˈhoʊmstedz/
plural of “homestead” — the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
not in action or at work
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
ill-treatmentnoun
cruel or inhumane treatment
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
industrynounUS /ˈɪndəstri/
the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
the act of departing
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
magazinesnounUS /ˈmæɡəziːnz/
plural of “magazine” — a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
manufacturingnounUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃərɪŋ/
the act of making something (a product) from raw materials
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
used to form the superlative
From this reading That was the term most commonly used by the writers of these articles--abandoned farms going for a song.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
nearbyadjectiveUS /ˈnɪrˈbaɪ/
close at hand
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/
plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
non-productive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
overcultivation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
ownersnounUS /ˈoʊnərz/
plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
express in words
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/
have in common; held or experienced in common
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
speckledadjectiveUS /ˈspekəld/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
sterileadjectiveUS /ˈsterəl/
incapable of reproducing
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading That was the term most commonly used by the writers of these articles--abandoned farms going for a song.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading That was the term most commonly used by the writers of these articles--abandoned farms going for a song.
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading That was the term most commonly used by the writers of these articles--abandoned farms going for a song.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
a vivid mental image
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As a result there were great numbers of desirable places, any one of which might be had for a song.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The idea first came to us through reading articles that appeared in the various magazines and newspapers telling of the sudden growth of what I may call the aban-doned-farm industry.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It seemed that New England in general--and the state of Connecticut in particular--was thickly speckled with delightful old places which, through overcultivation or ill-treatment, had become for the time being sterile and non-productive; so that the original owners had moved away to the nearby manufacturing towns, leaving their ancestral homesteads empty and their ancestral acres idle.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
writersnounUS /ˈraɪtərz/
plural of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading That was the term most commonly used by the writers of these articles--abandoned farms going for a song.
a late time of life
From this reading For years it was the dream of our life--I should say our lives, since my wife shared this vision with me--to own an abandoned farm.
