used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
blackbirdsnounUS /ˈblækbərdz/
plural of “blackbird” — any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
fir-woods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
hedgesnounUS /ˈhedʒɪz/
plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
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 But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
and nothing more
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
pathwaysnounUS /ˈpæθweɪz/
plural of “pathway” — a bundle of myelinated nerve fibers following a path through the brain
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
primrosesnounUS /ˈprɪmroʊzəz/
plural of “primrose” — any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
slipperyadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpəri/
causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
the season of growth
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
stitchwortnoun
low-growing north temperate herb having small white star-shaped flowers; named for its alleged ability to ease sharp pains in the side
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
the rays of the sun
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
SurreynounUS /ˈsɜːri/
a county in southeastern England on the Thames
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
tearfuladjectiveUS /ˈtɪrfəl/
filled with or marked by tears
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
thrushesnounUS /ˈθrʌʃəz/
plural of “thrush” — candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
triumphantadjectiveUS /traɪˈʌmfənt/
joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
unfoldverbUS /ənˈfoʊld/
develop or come to a promising stage
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was chilly as only an English spring knows how to be.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading The fir-woods were deserted—the pathways through them wet and slippery.
a Caucasian
From this reading The leaves were beginning to unfold, fresh and green; the primroses were thick in the hedges; and here and there the little white stitchwort showed itself, tearful and triumphant.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But overhead there was fitful sunshine and patches of blue sky, though the Surrey hills were misty and the fields were sodden with many rains.
but in spite of that
From this reading The thrushes and blackbirds were making ready for summer, though as yet there was not a sign of it.
