used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
(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 Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
belatedadjectiveUS /bɪˈleɪtɪd/
after the expected or usual time; delayed
From this reading Here and there a belated furze-bush erected its golden crown.
birchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
blackberriesnounUS /ˈblækberiz/
plural of “blackberry” — large sweet black or very dark purple edible aggregate fruit of any of various bushes of the genus Rubus
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
cause to be bored
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
bouldersnounUS /ˈboʊldərz/
plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
brackennounUS /ˈbrækən/
fern of southeastern Asia; not hardy in cold temperate regions
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
bramblesnounUS /ˈbræmbəlz/
plural of “bramble” — any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
breastsnounUS /brests/
plural of “breast” — the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
coveringsnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋz/
plural of “covering” — a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy
From this reading Here and there a belated furze-bush erected its golden crown.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
dwarfedverbUS /dwɔːrft/
past form of “dwarf” — make appear small by comparison
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
erectedverbUS /ɪˈrektəd/
past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect
From this reading Here and there a belated furze-bush erected its golden crown.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
fertileadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtəl/
capable of reproducing
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
furze-bush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a belated furze-bush erected its golden crown.
glisteningadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ/
reflecting light
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
gnarledadjectiveUS /nɑːrld/
used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Here and there a belated furze-bush erected its golden crown.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
heathernounUS /ˈheðər/
common Old World heath represented by many varieties; low evergreen grown widely in the northern hemisphere
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Here and there a belated furze-bush erected its golden crown.
immediately past
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
lichennounUS /ˈlaɪkən/
any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
moorlandnounUS /ˈmʊrlænd/
open land usually with peaty soil covered with heather and bracken and moss
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
mossnounUS /mɔːs/
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
and nothing more
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
ripeadjectiveUS /raɪp/
fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/
reflecting optimism
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
rust-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
except for; apart from
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
sturdilyadverb
in a sturdy manner
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
swayedverbUS /sweɪd/
past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there a belated furze-bush erected its golden crown.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
thornnounUS /θɔːrn/
something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
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 Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading Great boulders were scattered among the thorn bushes, and over their rough and glistening breasts were flung velvet coverings of green moss and grey lichen.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
but in spite of that
From this reading On this October day, the heather yet sturdily bore a few last rosy blossoms, and the ripe blackberries shone like black diamonds on the straggling brambles.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading Here all the trees were gnarled and dwarfed above the patches of rust-coloured bracken; save only the delicate silver birch, which swayed and yielded to the wind.
Youle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearly a thousand feet above the fertile valley of the Youle, stretched a waste of moorland.
