used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
ACCEPTSverbUS /ækˈsepts/
third-person singular of “accept” — consider or hold as true
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
addictedadjectiveUS /əˈdɪktɪd/
compulsively or physiologically dependent on something habit-forming
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
adjacentadjectiveUS /əˈdʒeɪsənt/
nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
(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 From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
assumingadjectiveUS /əˈsuːmɪŋ/
excessively forward
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
Blandings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
broodedverbUS /ˈbruːdɪd/
past form of “brood” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But happiness, even on the finest mornings, is seldom universal.
butterfliesnounUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪz/
plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
CanterburynounUS /ˈkæntərberi/
a town in Kent in southeastern England; site of the cathedral where Thomas a Becket was martyred in 1170; seat of the archbishop and primate of the Anglican Church
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
carnationsnounUS /kɑːrˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “carnation” — Eurasian plant with pink to purple-red spice-scented usually double flowers; widely cultivated in many varieties and many colors
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
casualadjectiveUS /ˈkæʒəwəl/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
columbinesnounUS /ˈkɑːləmbaɪnz/
plural of “columbine” — a plant of the genus Aquilegia having irregular showy spurred flowers; north temperate regions especially mountains
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
EMPLOYMENTnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
divisible by two
From this reading But happiness, even on the finest mornings, is seldom universal.
finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/
superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading But happiness, even on the finest mornings, is seldom universal.
Flannelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
hearteningadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrtənɪŋ/
cheerfully encouraging
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
hollyhocksnounUS /ˈhɑːlihɑːks/
plural of “hollyhock” — any of various plants of the genus Althaea; similar to but having smaller flowers than genus Alcea
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But happiness, even on the finest mornings, is seldom universal.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
larkspurs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
maidensnounUS /ˈmeɪdənz/
plural of “maiden” — an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
morningsnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading But happiness, even on the finest mornings, is seldom universal.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
pansiesnounUS /ˈpænziz/
plural of “pansy” — large-flowered garden plant derived chiefly from the wild pansy of Europe and having velvety petals of various colors
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
phrasesnounUS /ˈfreɪzəz/
plural of “phrase” — an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
pinksnounUS /pɪŋks/
plural of “pink” — a light shade of red
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
pleasure-grounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
PSMITH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
reignedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “reign” — have sovereign power
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
not often
From this reading But happiness, even on the finest mornings, is seldom universal.
sergenounUS /sɜːrdʒ/
a twilled woolen fabric
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
shrubberynounUS /ˈʃrʌbəri/
an area where a number of shrubs are planted
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
sportedverbUS /ˈspɔːrtɪd/
past form of “sport” — wear or display in an ostentatious or proud manner
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
tennis-courts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PSMITH ACCEPTS EMPLOYMENT The golden stillness of a perfect summer morning brooded over Blandings Castle and its adjacent pleasure-grounds.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
triteadjectiveUS /traɪt/
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/
of worldwide scope or applicability
From this reading But happiness, even on the finest mornings, is seldom universal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading From a sky of unbroken blue the sun poured down its heartening rays on all those roses, pinks, pansies, carnations, hollyhocks, columbines, larkspurs, London pride and Canterbury bells which made the gardens so rarely beautiful.
a Caucasian
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In short, the casual observer, assuming that he was addicted to trite phrases, would have said that happiness reigned supreme.
youthsnounUS /juːðz/
plural of “youth” — a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
zipverbUS /zɪp/
close with a zipper
From this reading Flannelled youths and maidens in white serge sported in the shade; gay cries arose from the tennis-courts behind the shrubbery; and birds, bees, and butterflies went about their business with a new energy and zip.
