Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

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

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

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

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

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

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

limp and soiled as if dragged in the mud

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

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

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

an occurrence of something

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

a small house with a single story

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

rural regions

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

in accordance with convention or custom

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

superlative of “greedy” — immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

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

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

toward home

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

plural of “housewife” — a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

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

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

a formal or official examination

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

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

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

provided with artificial light

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

plural of “morsel” — a small quantity of anything

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

above and across; more than

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

the quantity of a crop that is harvested

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

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

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

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

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

with speed

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

not used up

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

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

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

-ing form of “scramble” — to move hurriedly

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

-ing form of “shelter” — provide shelter for

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

plural of “shutter” — a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

make a splashing sound

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

that is looked for

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

-ing form of “squawk” — utter a harsh abrupt scream

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

-ing form of “squelch” — suppress or crush completely

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

in a stiff manner

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

act of expanding by lengthening or widening

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

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

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

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

From this reading The pale light of a November afternoon faded rapidly into the dusk of a November evening.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

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

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

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

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

not conquered

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

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

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

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

From this reading Far over the countryside housewives put up their cottage shutters, lit their lamps, and made the customary remark that the days were drawing in.

in the company of; together with

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading And through the cold squelching slush of a water-logged meadow a weary, bedraggled, but unbeaten fox stiffly picked his way, climbed a high bramble-grown bank, and flung himself into the sheltering labyrinth of a stretching tangle of woods.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading Labourers working in yard and field began to turn their thoughts homeward or tavernward as the case might be.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading In barn yards and poultry-runs the greediest pullets made a final tour of inspection, picking up the stray remaining morsels of the evening meal, and then, with much scrambling and squawking, sought the places on the roosting-pole that they thought should belong to them.