used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading She walked until a rickety wooden bridge spanned Sandy Creek.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
churchyards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
claynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
cottonwoodnounUS /ˈkɑːtənwʊd/
any of several North American trees of the genus Populus having a tuft of cottony hairs on the seed
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading She walked until a rickety wooden bridge spanned Sandy Creek.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
eavesnounUS /iːvz/
the overhang at the lower edge of a roof
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
fluffnounUS /flʌf/
any light downy material
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
foamnounUS /foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
immediately past
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading Matilda liked Sandy Creek.
feeling or showing love and affection
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
pasturesnounUS /ˈpæstʃərz/
plural of “pasture” — a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
pavedadjectiveUS /peɪvd/
covered with a firm surface
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
ricketyadjectiveUS /ˈrɪkəti/
inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
From this reading She walked until a rickety wooden bridge spanned Sandy Creek.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
SandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading She walked until a rickety wooden bridge spanned Sandy Creek.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She walked until a rickety wooden bridge spanned Sandy Creek.
sluggishadjectiveUS /ˈslʌɡɪʃ/
moving slowly
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
spannedverbUS /spænd/
inflected form of “span” — to cover or extend over an area or time period
From this reading She walked until a rickety wooden bridge spanned Sandy Creek.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
summer'snounUS /ˈsʌmərz/
possessive form of “summer” — the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
tuftsnounUS /tʌfts/
plural of “tuft” — a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
uncertainlyadverbUS /ənˈsɜːrtənli/
in an unsteady manner
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She walked until a rickety wooden bridge spanned Sandy Creek.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
in or at the place that
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
a Caucasian
From this reading A cottonwood or two dropped white fluff and it floated on the sluggish water like tufts of foam.
which person or people
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
belonging to which person
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
willowsnounUS /ˈwɪloʊz/
plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading The willows that bent to it reminded her of churchyards filled with people who had died loving one another.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading She walked until a rickety wooden bridge spanned Sandy Creek.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Matilda snatched up a hat faded by last summer’s sun and walked down a street paved with clay, past houses whose eaves were dripping with sunlight to where a wet yellow road cut uncertainly through the pastures.
