1st
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
almanacnounUS /ˈɑːlmənæk/
an annual publication including weather forecasts and other miscellaneous information arranged according to the calendar of a given year
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
announcedadjectiveUS /əˈnaʊnst/
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
beannounUS /biːn/
any of various edible seeds of plants of the family Leguminosae used for food
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
BLUFFnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
cataloguesnounUS /ˈkætəlɔːɡz/
plural of “catalogue” — a complete list of things; usually arranged systematically
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
ceasedverbUS /siːst/
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
changeverbUS /tʃeɪndʒ/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
concernedadjectiveUS /kənˈsɜːrnd/
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
dealersnounUS /ˈdiːlərz/
plural of “dealer” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
the act of departing
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
dutiesnounUS /ˈduːtiz/
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
employersnounUS /emˈplɔɪərz/
plural of “employer” — a person or firm that employs workers
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
eranounUS /ˈerə/
a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
flightnounUS /flaɪt/
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
FRIENDnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
growingnounUS /ˈɡroʊɪŋ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
heartsnounUS /hɑːrts/
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
hopenounUS /hoʊp/
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
illustratedverbUS /ˈɪləstreɪtəd/
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
Jack'snounUS /dʒæks/
possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
leaveverbUS /liːv/
go away from a place
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
loweringadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərɪŋ/
darkened by clouds
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
MarchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/
march in a procession
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
obtainedverbUS /əbˈteɪnd/
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
poredverbUS /pɔːrd/
past form of “pore” — direct one's attention on something
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
possessionnounUS /pəˈzeʃən/
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
robinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
roomsnounUS /ruːmz/
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
securedverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrd/
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
seedsnounUS /siːdz/
plural of “seed” — a small hard fruit
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
sojourningverbUS /ˈsoʊdʒərnɪŋ/
-ing form of “sojourn” — spend a certain length of time; reside temporarily
From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
southnounUS /saʊθ/
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
spareverbUS /sper/
refrain from harming
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
spitenounUS /spaɪt/
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
studyingnounUS /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
tenantsnounUS /ˈtenənts/
plural of “tenant” — someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
unawareadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈwer/
(often followed by “of”) not aware
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
wintryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪntri/
characteristic of or occurring in winter
From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
