Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
advancing
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From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
ATTRACTION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
barren
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From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
bedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
beef
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
bleak
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From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
carts
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From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
cattle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
Christmas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
Corn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
cows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
default
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
farmsteads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
fern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
fortnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
half-fed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
heather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
herbage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
housewives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
ling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
mangold-wurzel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
Martinmas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
meat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
mill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
moors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
northern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
November
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
oat-cake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
pared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
parts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
pickle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
pull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
racks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
REPULSION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
roads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
salt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
scarceadjectiveUS /skɛrs/
hard to find or in short supply
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
slaughtering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
stacked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
stored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
straw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
strides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
swung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
thatching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
turf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
turnips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the turf, pared up on the distant moors, and left out to dry, to be carried home and stacked; the brown fern was to be stored up for winter bedding for the cattle; for straw was scarce and dear in those parts; even for thatching, heather (or rather ling) was used.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In bleak northern farmsteads there was much to be done before November weather should make the roads too heavy for half-fed horses to pull carts through.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Then there was meat to salt while it could be had; for, in default of turnips and mangold-wurzel, there was a great slaughtering of barren cows as soon as the summer herbage failed; and good housewives stored up their Christmas piece of beef in pickle before Martinmas was over.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading ATTRACTION AND REPULSION A fortnight had passed over and winter was advancing with rapid strides.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Corn was to be ground while yet it could be carried to the distant mill; the great racks for oat-cake, that swung at the top of the kitchen, had to be filled.
