adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
Alf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
Amy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
animationnounUS /ˌænəˈmeɪʃən/
the condition of living or the state of being alive
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
arrivalsnounUS /ərˈaɪvəlz/
plural of “arrival” — accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
billsnounUS /bɪlz/
plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
bird-notes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
breastsnounUS /brests/
plural of “breast” — the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
brownishadjectiveUS /ˈbraʊnɪʃ/
of a color similar to that of wood or earth
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
callsnounUS /kɔːlz/
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
countlessadjectiveUS /ˈkaʊntləs/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
cryingadjectiveUS /ˈkraɪɪŋ/
demanding attention
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
grassverbUS /ɡræs/
shoot down, of birds
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
greetverbUS /ɡriːt/
express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
HARBINGERSnounUS /ˈhɑːrbɪŋərz/
plural of “harbinger” — something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
HasteningverbUS /ˈheɪsənɪŋ/
-ing form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
headsnounUS /hedz/
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
householdnounUS /ˈhaʊshoʊld/
a social unit living together
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
jauntyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔːnti/
marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
latestadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtəst/
up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
loudadjectiveUS /laʊd/
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
piazzanounUS /piˈæzə/
a public square with room for pedestrians
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
quarter-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
rednounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
resounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
robinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
scenenounUS /siːn/
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
songsnounUS /sɔːŋz/
plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
SouthnounUS /saʊθ/
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
SPRING'SnounUS /sprɪŋz/
possessive form of “spring” — the season of growth
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading A moment later the voice of Alf resounded through the house, crying, "The robins have come!"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SPRING'S HARBINGERS Amy was awakened on the following morning by innumerable bird-notes, not songs, but loud calls.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading All over the grass of the lawn and on the ground of the orchard beyond was a countless flock of what seemed to her quarter-grown chickens.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading Hastening to the window, she witnessed a scene very strange to her eyes.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Very soon nearly all the household were on the piazza to greet these latest arrivals from the South; and a pretty scene of life and animation they made, with their yellow bills, jaunty black heads, and brownish red breasts.
