Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

anew

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

(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 The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

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

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

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

From this reading As for the robins, they were as pert and busy as usual.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

fruit-eating mostly brilliant blue songbird of the East Indies

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading As for the robins, they were as pert and busy as usual.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

earlier in time; previously

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

plural of “engraving” — a print made from an engraving

From this reading Illustrated with engravings.

past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As for the robins, they were as pert and busy as usual.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of

From this reading Illustrated with engravings.

make longer

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

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

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

for more time

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality

From this reading As for the robins, they were as pert and busy as usual.

squeeze tightly between the fingers

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading As for the robins, they were as pert and busy as usual.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

the season of growth

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

characterized by dignity and propriety

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

carry out

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

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

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

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

From this reading As for the robins, they were as pert and busy as usual.

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

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

a shaky motion

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

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

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

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

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading As for the robins, they were as pert and busy as usual.

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

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

accept gladly

From this reading Now and then a bluebird was heard twittering a welcome to the coming spring.

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

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

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

From this reading The little streams were beginning to find their way out of their icy prison slowly and with trembling, as if they feared old winter might take a step and catch them, and pinch them all up again.

characteristic of or occurring in winter

From this reading The short wintry days were beginning to lengthen, the sun rose earlier and staid up longer.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Illustrated with engravings.