used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
move towards
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
completely unclothed
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
dankadjectiveUS /dæŋk/
unpleasantly cool and humid
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
enervatingadjective
causing debilitation
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
featheredadjectiveUS /ˈfeðərd/
adorned with feathers or plumes
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
forestsnounUS /ˈfɔːrəsts/
plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
fretworknoun
framework consisting of an ornamental design made of strips of wood or metal
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
garbedadjectiveUS /ɡɑːrbd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
gladdening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
heraldedadjectiveUS /ˈherəldɪd/
publicly announced
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
set down according to a plan
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
immediately past
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
mazyadjective
resembling a labyrinth in form or complexity
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
meltingnounUS /ˈmeltɪŋ/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
odoursnounUS /ˈoʊdərs/
plural of “odour” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
plumagenounUS /ˈpluːmədʒ/
the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
resinousadjective
having the characteristics of pitch or tar
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
rottingnounUS /ˈrɑːtɪŋ/
(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
sketchnounUS /sketʃ/
preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
Spring'snounUS /sprɪŋz/
possessive form of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
the rays of the sun
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TO THE DEATH The forest gloom is broken by gladdening beams of sunlight.
trumpeters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring's approach has been heralded by its feathered trumpeters, garbed in their sober plumage.
underlayverb
raise or support (the level of printing) by inserting a piece of paper or cardboard under the type
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
vegetationnounUS /ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃən/
all the plant life in a particular region or period
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
weightedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪtɪd/
made heavy or weighted down with weariness
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They sketch a mazy fretwork pattern of light and shade on the dank underlay of rotting vegetation which the melting snow has laid bare.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The air is weighted down with heavy, resinous odours, and an enervating warmth has descended to the depths of the lower forests.
but in spite of that
From this reading But Winter has not yet spread its wings for its last flight.
