used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
(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 Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
budsnounUS /bʌdz/
plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
charminglyadverbUS /ˈtʃɑːrmɪŋli/
in a charming manner
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
crocusesnounUS /ˈkroʊkjuːsɪz/
plural of “crocus” — any of numerous low-growing plants of the genus Crocus having slender grasslike leaves and white or yellow or purple flowers; native chiefly to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
deckedverbUS /dekt/
past form of “deck” — be beautiful to look at
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
at any time
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
freshenedverbUS /ˈfreʃənd/
past form of “freshen” — make (to feel) fresh
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
hummed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
Janet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
Jonquils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
nestsnounUS /nests/
plural of “nest” — a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
and nothing more
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
Phyllis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
planningnounUS /ˈplænɪŋ/
an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
robinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
showersnounUS /ˈʃaʊərz/
plural of “shower” — a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
the season of growth
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
very small
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
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 The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
wailedverbUS /weɪld/
past form of “wail” — emit long loud cries
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "If we could only think of something different to do," Phyllis wailed.
accept gladly
From this reading Jonquils and crocuses appeared to welcome the fat robins that returned to their nests, and all Nature hummed and fluttered in its eager preparations.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Janet and Phyllis were busy planning a farewell party, as they sat in the sunshine in the park one Sunday morning.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading THE FAREWELL PARTY Spring made an early appearance in New York and decked itself more charmingly than ever.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The trees showed tiny green buds, and the grass freshened under the warm showers, almost as you looked.
