Chapter I

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

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

(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 She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

constructed with or in the form of an arch or arches

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

a town in eastern Pennsylvania on the Lehigh River to the northwest of Philadelphia; an important center for steel production

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

past events to be put aside

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

plural of “century” — a period of 100 years

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

rid of obstructions

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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 She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading More than any other flower, they seemed to _mean_ to come, to will and compass it by the force of their own mysterious life.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

navigational instrument for finding directions

From this reading More than any other flower, they seemed to _mean_ to come, to will and compass it by the force of their own mysterious life.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

conspicuously and tastelessly indecent

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

coming to maturity

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

to or in any or all places

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading More than any other flower, they seemed to _mean_ to come, to will and compass it by the force of their own mysterious life.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

something acquired without compensation

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading More than any other flower, they seemed to _mean_ to come, to will and compass it by the force of their own mysterious life.

held dear

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading More than any other flower, they seemed to _mean_ to come, to will and compass it by the force of their own mysterious life.

being or having the character of a miracle

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

of an obscure nature

From this reading More than any other flower, they seemed to _mean_ to come, to will and compass it by the force of their own mysterious life.

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

above and across; more than

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading More than any other flower, they seemed to _mean_ to come, to will and compass it by the force of their own mysterious life.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

make a promise or commitment

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

on the contrary

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

cut with a saw

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

try to get or reach

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

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

From this reading More than any other flower, they seemed to _mean_ to come, to will and compass it by the force of their own mysterious life.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

protected from danger or bad weather

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

marked by the presence of snow

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

the season of growth

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

not in physical motion

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

the rays of the sun

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading She thought always, when she saw them, of Christmas bells over snowy fields, in bygone centuries; of the Star in the East, and of the manger at Bethlehem.

a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

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

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

look attentively

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

at the time that

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

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

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

a Caucasian

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading More than any other flower, they seemed to _mean_ to come, to will and compass it by the force of their own mysterious life.

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

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.

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

From this reading More than any other flower, winter piled upon their heads, unallured by spring and the promise of sunlight, they seemed to come from the pressure of a gift to bring rather than a life to seek.

characteristic of or occurring in winter

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She had always loved to watch their manner of emerging from the wintry ground: neck first, arched and stubborn; heads bent down as if with held breath and thrusting effort; the pale, bowed, folded flower, when finally it rose, still earthy, still part, as it were, of the cold and dark from which it came; so that to find them, as on this morning, clear, white, triumphant, all open to the wind and snow, was to renew the sense of the miraculous that, more than any other flower, they always gave her.

wood of a yew; especially the durable fine-grained light brown or red wood of the English yew valued for cabinetwork and archery bows

From this reading BY ANNE DOUGLAS SEDGWICK (Mrs. Basil de Sélincourt) _Author of “Tante,” “The Third Window,” etc._ THEY were coming up everywhere in their sheltered corner on the wall-border, between the laurustinus and the yew hedge.