used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
brightestadjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtəst/
superlative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
DISCLOSUREnounUS /dɪˈskloʊʒər/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading THE DISCLOSURE.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
harbingernounUS /ˈhɑːrbɪndʒər/
something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
heraldedadjectiveUS /ˈherəldɪd/
publicly announced
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
ice-crowned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
joyousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪəs/
full of or characterized by joy
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
monarchnounUS /ˈmɑːnɑːrk/
a nation's ruler or head of state usually by hereditary right
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
a brief written record
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
on one occasion
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
pitilessadjectiveUS /ˈpɪtiləs/
without mercy or pity
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
reignverbUS /reɪn/
have sovereign power
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
resistancenounUS /rɪˈzɪstəns/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
sallied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
severitynounUS /sɪˈverɪti/
used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/
plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
songsternoun
a composer of words or music for popular songs
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
the season of growth
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
swayverbUS /sweɪ/
move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DISCLOSURE.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
tyrannizing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading An occasional note from the returning songster was welcomed as the brightest harbinger of the truly delightful season.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Already the genial days of joyous spring were heralded by a vigorous effort of the shrubs and plants to show themselves in resistance to the tyrannizing sway of the ice-crowned monarch.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Winter had far advanced; its reign of severity and pitiless defiance was near its end.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Merry voices mingled in tones of deep gratitude as they once more sallied forth to enjoy the pleasure of the woods.
