used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
in the past
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
(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 So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
almondsnounUS /ˈɑːlməndz/
plural of “almond” — small bushy deciduous tree native to Asia and North Africa having pretty pink blossoms and highly prized edible nuts enclosed in a hard green hull; cultivated in southern Australia and California
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
citizensnounUS /ˈsɪtəzənz/
plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
creditingverbUS /ˈkredətɪŋ/
-ing form of “credit” — give someone credit for something
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
delusionnounUS /dɪˈluːʒən/
(psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
dislikenounUS /dɪˈslaɪk/
an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
divisible by two
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
opinion or judgment
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
fire-sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
an established custom
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
hazyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪzi/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
larches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
Lud-in-the-Mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
and nothing more
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
opticaladjectiveUS /ˈɑːptɪkəl/
of or relating to or involving light or optics
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
rose-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
only a very short time before
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/
have in common; held or experienced in common
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
shunverbUS /ʃʌn/
avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
the season of growth
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
startlinglyadverbUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋliː/
in a startling manner
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
not in physical motion
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
thornsnounUS /θɔːrnz/
plural of “thorn” — something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though the habit may have sprung from some forgotten danger that, long ago, had made their ancestors shun the dark.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
a source of difficulty
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE The social life of Lud-in-the-Mist began in spring and ended in autumn.
unreasoningadjectiveUS /ənˈriːznɪŋ/
not based on reason or evidence
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There, the lawn was certainly green, the larches and thorns even startlingly so, and the almonds had rose-coloured blossoms; but the fields and trees in the hazy distance beyond their own walls were still grey and black.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading In winter the citizens preferred their own fire-sides; they had an unreasoning dislike of being out after nightfall, a dislike due not so much to fear as to habit.
in the company of; together with
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading So it was always with relief as well as with joy that they welcomed the first appearance of spring--scarcely crediting at first that it was a reality shared by all the world, and not merely an optical delusion confined to their own eyes in their own garden.
