Chapter I

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

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

(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 Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

using the voice; not silently

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

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

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

again but in a new or different way

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

third-person singular of “assail” — attack someone physically or emotionally

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

superlative of “big” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

affected by blight; anything that mars or prevents growth or prosperity

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

the organic process of bearing flowers

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

in a breathless manner

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

superlative of “brief” — of short duration or distance

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

pressed tightly together

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

close interaction

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

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

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

divisible by two

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

suddenly and rapidly

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

(of a young bird) having acquired its flight feathers

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

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

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity

From this reading GAS VALLEY "Gas!"

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

plural of “grass” — narrow-leaved green herbage: grown as lawns; used as pasture for grazing animals; cut and dried as hay

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

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

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

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

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

the inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain or nut or fruit stone

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

bearing or marked with a label or tag

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

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

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

pose a threat to; present a danger to

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

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

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

in an anxiously nervous manner

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

past form of “poison” — spoil as if by poison

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

affix in a public place or for public notice

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

four performers or singers who perform together

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

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

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

the act of searching for something

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

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

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

plural of “terror” — an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

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

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

something that is a source of danger

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

push forcefully

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

having come into contact

From this reading Breathlessly, nervously, they shrank together until their shoulders touched, like fledgling birds struck by the terrors of the first storm that assails them in the nest, seeking for contact and comfort.

past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

up to a particular time

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading GAS VALLEY "Gas!"

precisely as stated

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

a message informing of danger

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

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

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

which person or people

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

(of plants) limp due to heat, loss of water, or disease

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

the direction from which the wind is coming

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

the words that are spoken

From this reading Briefest and biggest of all words thrust by the Great War into the fore-ranks of speech, the word rang aloud upon the summer air.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading A kernel of compressed menace, it burst explosively, spread elastically, until the very sky--the peaceful, lamb's-wool New England sky--seemed darkened by its threat, until the brown buds, withered in their tender youth, and the rags of yellow grasses blighted before by its poisoned breath, trembled and wilted, as it were, anew!

a locally circumscribed place characterized by some distinctive features

From this reading It even withered the morning-glory bloom upon the faces of a quartette of young girls, who stood a few yards to windward of a little red-and-white post labeled "Danger Zone," on the other side of which the warning was given.