used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading It was the middle of April.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
balmnounUS /bɑːm/
any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
bladesnounUS /bleɪdz/
plural of “blade” — especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
breezesnounUS /ˈbriːzɪz/
plural of “breeze” — a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
cloaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
crocusesnounUS /ˈkroʊkjuːsɪz/
plural of “crocus” — any of numerous low-growing plants of the genus Crocus having slender grasslike leaves and white or yellow or purple flowers; native chiefly to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
dandelionsnounUS /ˈdændəlaɪənz/
plural of “dandelion” — any of several herbs of the genus Taraxacum having long tap roots and deeply notched leaves and bright yellow flowers followed by fluffy seed balls
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
envelopingadjectiveUS /ɪnˈveləpɪŋ/
surrounding and closing in on or hemming in
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
fringesnounUS /ˈfrɪndʒɪz/
plural of “fringe” — the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
fringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
HoodedverbUS /ˈhʊdɪd/
past form of “hood” — cover with a hood
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
hyacinthnounUS /ˈhaɪəsɪnθ/
a red transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the middle of April.
and nothing more
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
ladenadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdən/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
held up in the air
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading It was the middle of April.
mutelyadverb
without speaking
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
new-born
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the middle of April.
peepverbUS /piːp/
look furtively
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
slyadjectiveUS /slaɪ/
marked by skill in deception
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
SouthlandnounUS /ˈsaʊθlænd/
any region lying in or toward the south
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
spicenounUS /spaɪs/
aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
move an implement through
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the middle of April.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
tinklingadjectiveUS /ˈtɪŋkəlɪŋ/
like the short high ringing sound of a small bell
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
tintnounUS /tɪnt/
a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
unheardadjectiveUS /ənˈhɜːrd/
not necessarily inaudible but not heard
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
unwontedadjective
unaccustomed or unusual
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
walksnounUS /wɔːks/
plural of “walk” — the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the middle of April.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Already in sheltered corners the thin blades of grass were fringing the walks and telling mutely of the stir at their roots.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The crocuses were just ready to laugh, and the purple bells of the wild hyacinth were tinkling unheard in the soft air.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sky had an unwonted tint of blue, and occasional breezes came up from the Southland laden with the balm and spice of the new-born earth.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Hooded in their green cloaks, the dandelions lifted their yellow heads and took a sly peep from their enveloping fringes.
