adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a quarter of a century, the garden had lain desolate.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
bloomsnounUS /bluːmz/
plural of “bloom” — the organic process of bearing flowers
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
centurynounUS /ˈsentʃəri/
a period of 100 years
From this reading For a quarter of a century, the garden had lain desolate.
comfortnounUS /ˈkʌmfərt/
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
dancingnounUS /ˈdænsɪŋ/
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading For a quarter of a century, the garden had lain desolate.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
Five-and-twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading For a quarter of a century, the garden had lain desolate.
gatherverbUS /ˈɡæðər/
assemble or get together
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
GreyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
hillsidenounUS /ˈhɪlsaɪd/
the side or slope of a hill
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
kindlyadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndli/
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading For a quarter of a century, the garden had lain desolate.
leanedverbUS /liːnd/
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
massnounUS /mæs/
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
quarternounUS /ˈkwɔːrtər/
one of four equal parts
From this reading For a quarter of a century, the garden had lain desolate.
returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
shelteringverbUS /ˈʃeltərɪŋ/
-ing form of “shelter” — provide shelter for
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
singingnounUS /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
SpringsnounUS /sprɪŋz/
plural of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
SummersnounUS /ˈsʌmərz/
plural of “summer” — the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
supportnounUS /səˈpɔːrt/
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
weather-worn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grey and weather-worn, it leaned toward the sheltering hillside as though to gather from the kindly earth some support and comfort for old age.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Summers came and went, but only a few straggling blooms made their way above the mass of weeds.
WintersnounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
plural of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Five-and-twenty Winters had broken its spirit, five-and-twenty Springs had not brought back the heart of it, that had once gone out, with dancing feet and singing, and had returned no more.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading The little house was waiting, as it had waited for many years.
