Chapter XXXV

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

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

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

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

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

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

of black tinged with blue

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

lacking funds

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

coldness due to a cold environment

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

made or joined or united into one

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

continuing in time or space without interruption

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

every day; without missing a day

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

having gaps or spaces

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

well in the past; former

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

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

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

a heavy rain

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

a shortage of rainfall

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

-ing form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

plural of “fir” — nonresinous wood of a fir tree

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

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

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

a state of high honor

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

an established custom

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

common Old World heath represented by many varieties; low evergreen grown widely in the northern hemisphere

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

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

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

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

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

express grief verbally

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

immediately past

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

plural of “lawn” — a field of cultivated and mowed grass

From this reading Water stood in pools on the lawns.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

darkened by clouds

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

filled or abounding with fog or mist

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Water stood in pools on the lawns.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

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

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

a light shade of red

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

in a plaintive manner

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water

From this reading Water stood in pools on the lawns.

plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

skillful after much practice

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

having accumulated rust

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

-ing form of “scourge” — punish severely; excoriate

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

with good sense or in a reasonable or intelligent manner

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

plural of “shower” — a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

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

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid)

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

wet through and through; thoroughly wet

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

plural of “spire” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Water stood in pools on the lawns.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

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

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

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

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

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

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

move fast, noisily, and heavily

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Leaves, dessicated by the continuous sun-scorch, fell in dingy brown showers from the beeches; and a robin, perching upon one of the posts of the tennis-net, practised the opening, plaintively sweet notes of his autumn song.

precisely as stated

From this reading The flower-garden, dashed by the initial downpour, became daily more sodden, its glory very sensibly departed.

an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)

From this reading SOME PASSAGES FROM JOANNA SMYRTHWAITE'S LOCKED BOOK The long drought broke at last in an afternoon and night of thunder and scourging violence of rain, drowning out summer.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading Water stood in pools on the lawns.

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

toward the west

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.

land that is covered with trees and shrubs

From this reading A week of chill westerly weather followed, lowering gray skies, a perpetual lament of wind through the great woodland, combined with a soaking, misty drizzle which forced the firs and pines into their blue-black winter habit and rusted the pink spires of the heather.