used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
adventnounUS /ˈædvent/
arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Only the most foolhardy birds ventured to begin building operations.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Only the most foolhardy birds ventured to begin building operations.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
budsnounUS /bʌdz/
plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Only the most foolhardy birds ventured to begin building operations.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
casementnoun
a window sash that is hinged (usually on one side)
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
checkverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The weather was cold and variable.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
daffodilnounUS /ˈdæfədɪl/
any of numerous varieties of Narcissus plants having showy often yellow flowers with a trumpet-shaped central crown
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
EasternounUS /ˈiːstər/
a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
foolhardyadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlhɑːrdi/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading Only the most foolhardy birds ventured to begin building operations.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
not accessible to view
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Only the most foolhardy birds ventured to begin building operations.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
and nothing more
From this reading Only the most foolhardy birds ventured to begin building operations.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading Only the most foolhardy birds ventured to begin building operations.
PilgrimagenounUS /ˈpɪlɡrəmədʒ/
a journey to a sacred place
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
securelyadverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrli/
in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
the season of growth
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
tightlyadverbUS /ˈtaɪtli/
in a tight or constricted manner
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
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 Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
variableadjectiveUS /ˈveriəbəl/
liable to or capable of change
From this reading The weather was cold and variable.
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading Only the most foolhardy birds ventured to begin building operations.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The weather was cold and variable.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The weather was cold and variable.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading An Easter Pilgrimage The thirteen weeks between Christmas and Easter dragged much more slowly than those of the autumn term.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading As fast as Spring stirred in the earth, Winter seemed to stretch forth chilly fingers to check her advent.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Nature, like a careful mother, kept the buds tightly folded on the trees and the yellow daffodil blossoms securely hidden under their green casement curtains.
