AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
beeches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
BlackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young boy
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
brownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
clappedverbUS /klæpt/
inflected form of “clap” — put quickly or forcibly
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
clappingnounUS /ˈklæpɪŋ/
a demonstration of approval by clapping the hands together
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
criedverbUS /kraɪd/
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
delicatelyadverbUS /ˈdeləkətli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
denseradjectiveUS /ˈdensər/
comparative of “dense” — permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
entrynounUS /ˈentri/
an item inserted in a written record
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
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 Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
fleckedadjective
having a pattern of dots
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
forestnounUS /ˈfɔːrəst/
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
gatheringnounUS /ˈɡæðərɪŋ/
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
gayadjectiveUS /ɡeɪ/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
HithertoadverbUS /ˈhɪðɜːrˈtuː/
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
horizonnounUS /hərˈaɪzən/
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
jaynounUS /dʒeɪ/
United States diplomat and jurist who negotiated peace treaties with Britain and served as the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1745-1829)
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
joinedadjectiveUS /dʒɔɪnd/
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
lad's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
laughnounUS /læf/
the sound of laughing
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
loudlyadverbUS /ˈlaʊdli/
with relatively high volume
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
majesticadjectiveUS /məˈdʒestɪk/
majestic in manner or bearing; superior to mundane matters
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
midsummernounUS /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/
June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
portalsnounUS /ˈpɔːrtəlz/
plural of “portal” — a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
reignedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “reign” — have sovereign power
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
soaredverbUS /sɔːrd/
past form of “soar” — rise rapidly
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
spreadverbUS /spred/
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
SpringnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
starnounUS /stɑːr/
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
startledadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtəld/
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
sultryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌltri/
sexually exciting or gratifying
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
weeksnounUS /wiːks/
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
wingsnounUS /wɪŋz/
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
wood-pigeon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
wordnounUS /wɜːrd/
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
