used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
BeesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading First the wild Bees, Red Kings, Black Queens, fringe-footed, shaggy-coated.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading First the wild Bees, Red Kings, Black Queens, fringe-footed, shaggy-coated.
briarnounUS /ˈbraɪər/
Eurasian rose with prickly stems and fragrant leaves and bright pink flowers followed by scarlet hips
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
cart-track
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
clothedadjectiveUS /kloʊðd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
concealsverbUS /kənˈsiːlz/
third-person singular of “conceal” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
cuttingsnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋz/
plural of “cutting” — the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First the wild Bees, Red Kings, Black Queens, fringe-footed, shaggy-coated.
footholdnounUS /ˈfʊthoʊld/
an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
fringe-footed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First the wild Bees, Red Kings, Black Queens, fringe-footed, shaggy-coated.
frontsnounUS /frʌnts/
plural of “front” — the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
furzenoun
very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
gravel-pit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
juttingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌtɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading First the wild Bees, Red Kings, Black Queens, fringe-footed, shaggy-coated.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
mid-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
motheringverbUS /ˈmʌðərɪŋ/
-ing form of “mother” — care for like a mother
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
needingverbUS /ˈniːdɪŋ/
-ing form of “need” — require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
nettleverbUS /ˈnetəl/
sting with or as with nettles and cause a stinging pain or sensation
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
and nothing more
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
privetnoun
any of various Old World shrubs having smooth entire leaves and terminal panicles of small white flowers followed by small black berries; many used for hedges
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
QueensnounUS /kwiːnz/
a borough of New York City
From this reading First the wild Bees, Red Kings, Black Queens, fringe-footed, shaggy-coated.
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading First the wild Bees, Red Kings, Black Queens, fringe-footed, shaggy-coated.
root-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
scornedadjectiveUS /skɔːrnd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
shaggy-coatedadjective
used of hair; thick and poorly groomed
From this reading First the wild Bees, Red Kings, Black Queens, fringe-footed, shaggy-coated.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
southwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
splitsnounUS /splɪts/
plural of “split” — extending the legs at right angles to the trunk (one in front and the other in back)
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rank grass conceals the cart-track round its base, and, on its summit, a thin, root-bound soil gives foothold to a straggling hedge of privet.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Sand Cliff splits the old gravel-pit in two, and, jutting southward, fronts the mid-day sun.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading Man, needing gravel only, scorned the sand; and, as he turned his back on it, came Nature, gently mothering; and brought it warmth, and light, and life.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading First the wild Bees, Red Kings, Black Queens, fringe-footed, shaggy-coated.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cuttings driven east and west of it have long been clothed with furze and briar and nettle.
