used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading These are the advance guards of the cabbage millers or butterflies.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
move towards
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
baskverbUS /bæsk/
derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
butterfliesnounUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪz/
plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
From this reading These are the advance guards of the cabbage millers or butterflies.
butterflyverbUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪ/
flutter like a butterfly
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
CABBAGEnounUS /ˈkæbədʒ/
any of various types of cabbage
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
chrysalisnounUS /ˈkrɪsəlɪs/
pupa of a moth or butterfly enclosed in a cocoon
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
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 All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
doubtingadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtɪŋ/
marked by or given to doubt
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
enclose with a fence
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
flakyadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪki/
made of or resembling flakes
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
flashesnounUS /ˈflæʃɪz/
plural of “flash” — a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
guardsnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading These are the advance guards of the cabbage millers or butterflies.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
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 They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
march in a procession
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
MCDONALD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
MILLERnounUS /ˈmɪlər/
United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
millersnounUS /ˈmɪlərz/
plural of “miller” — United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)
From this reading These are the advance guards of the cabbage millers or butterflies.
in motion
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading These are the advance guards of the cabbage millers or butterflies.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
with speed
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
the season of growth
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
caught or fixed
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
swarmsnounUS /swɔːrmz/
plural of “swarm” — a moving crowd
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These are the advance guards of the cabbage millers or butterflies.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
weednounUS /wiːd/
any plant that crowds out cultivated plants
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
a Caucasian
From this reading They are not with us long, however, until we notice flashes of white quickly moving about from one early weed to another.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading All through the cold winter they remained in the chrysalis stage stuck to the sides of houses, fence posts and in other protected places, awaiting the first breath of spring.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the first approach of spring comes swarms of large green flies which bask in the March sun on the south sides of buildings.
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading THE CABBAGE MILLER "_And here and yonder a flaky butterfly Was doubting in the air._" --MCDONALD.
