used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
akinadjectiveUS /əˈkɪn/
similar in quality or character
From this reading A vague restlessness, and something even akin to despair, had brought her hither.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
birches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
bouldersnounUS /ˈboʊldərz/
plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
budsnounUS /bʌdz/
plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
make calm or still
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
rid of obstructions
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
curlewnoun
large migratory shorebirds of the sandpiper family; closely related to woodcocks but having a down-curved bill
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
dappledadjective
having spots or patches of color
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading A vague restlessness, and something even akin to despair, had brought her hither.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
divisible by two
From this reading A vague restlessness, and something even akin to despair, had brought her hither.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading FACE TO FACE.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A vague restlessness, and something even akin to despair, had brought her hither.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A vague restlessness, and something even akin to despair, had brought her hither.
hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading A vague restlessness, and something even akin to despair, had brought her hither.
hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/
in a softened tone
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
millionsnounUS /ˈmɪljənz/
plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
mossnounUS /mɔːs/
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
pendulousadjectiveUS /ˈpendʒələs/
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
prevailedverbUS /prɪˈveɪld/
past form of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
resinousadjective
having the characteristics of pitch or tar
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
restlessnessnounUS /ˈrestləsnəs/
the quality of being ceaselessly moving or active
From this reading A vague restlessness, and something even akin to despair, had brought her hither.
rivuletnoun
a small stream
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
except for; apart from
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
silver-lichened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A vague restlessness, and something even akin to despair, had brought her hither.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FACE TO FACE.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading A profound silence prevailed, save for the hushed continuous murmur of an unseen rivulet, and the occasional distant call of a curlew.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading A vague restlessness, and something even akin to despair, had brought her hither.
velvet-green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
migratory
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was early morning, clear, and calm, and still; the sun lay warm on the silver-lichened boulders that were dappled with velvet-green moss; the wandering air that stirred the pendulous branches of the birches brought with it a resinous odour, from the innumerable millions of opening buds.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading She was out in the solitude of the woods, and she was alone.
