used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
in a state of sleep
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
astiradjective
out of bed
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
CHANNELL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NELLY CHANNELL.
chimneysnounUS /ˈtʃɪmniz/
plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
copsenoun
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
a small house with a single story
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
fannedadjectiveUS /fænd/
especially spread in a fan shape
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
flakeverbUS /fleɪk/
form into flakes
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
the act of departing
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was noon.
leafagenoun
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
NELLY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NELLY CHANNELL.
no person; not anyone
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
the middle of the day
From this reading It was noon.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
only a very short time before
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
uplandadjectiveUS /ˈʌplənd/
used of high or hilly country
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The little village seemed to lie asleep in the August sunshine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
in or at the place that
From this reading From the upland where she stood Nelly could see the columns of pale smoke going up from cottage chimneys, but nobody was astir in the gardens.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Scarcely a flake of cloud relieved the intense blue overhead; not a breath of wind fanned the thick leafage in the copse behind her.
