Chapter IV

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading They could almost see the plants grow from day to day.

using the voice; not silently

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading The garden was altogether too interesting to leave.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading “What can they be?

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “What can they be?

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading They could almost see the plants grow from day to day.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading They could almost see the plants grow from day to day.

greatly pleasing or entertaining

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They could almost see the plants grow from day to day.

any of various tropical shrubs widely cultivated for their showy drooping purplish or reddish or white flowers; Central and South America and New Zealand and Tahiti

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading They could almost see the plants grow from day to day.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading The garden was altogether too interesting to leave.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

go away from a place

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

plural of “map” — a diagrammatic representation of the earth's surface (or part of it)

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

and nothing more

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

located, suited for, or taking place in the open air

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading They could almost see the plants grow from day to day.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

an educational institution

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading They could almost see the plants grow from day to day.

plural of “seed” — a small hard fruit

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

your consciousness of your own identity

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

the season of growth

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

produce buds, branches, or germinate

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

lacking fresh air

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

in or at that place or location

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading They could almost see the plants grow from day to day.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The garden was altogether too interesting to leave.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

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

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What can they be?

at the time that

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.

in or at the place that

From this reading “There are a lot of queer things coming up in the middle of my bed, where I meant to plant my fuchsia,” said Lois one morning.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading BARBARA FRIETCHIE All through this happy spring there was only one part of Lois’s life that she did not enjoy, and this was school; for it seemed such a waste of sunny hours, when the birds were singing and the trees were coming into leaf, and the seeds in the garden were beginning to sprout, to have to leave this delightful out-of-door world and shut one’s self up for hours in a stuffy room, and have tiresome lessons in numbers, or draw maps, or read aloud.