used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
anew
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The lilacs bloomed two weeks before their time.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
next to; at the side of
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
bloomedverbUS /bluːmd/
past form of “bloom” — produce or yield flowers
From this reading The lilacs bloomed two weeks before their time.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
cheeryadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪri/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
demanding attention
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
divisible by two
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
fidgetverbUS /ˈfɪdʒɪt/
move restlessly
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
frontedverbUS /ˈfrʌntɪd/
past form of “front” — be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
garden-strip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
green-stuff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
highlandsnounUS /ˈhaɪləndz/
a mountainous region of northern Scotland famous for its rugged beauty; known for the style of dress (the kilt and tartan) and the clan system (now in disuse)
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
lambsnounUS /læmz/
plural of “lamb” — young sheep
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
lilacsnounUS /ˈlaɪlæks/
plural of “lilac” — any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
From this reading The lilacs bloomed two weeks before their time.
ListernounUS /ˈlɪstər/
English surgeon who was the first to use antiseptics (1827-1912)
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
litaniesnounUS /ˈlɪtəniz/
plural of “litany” — any long and tedious address or recital
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
pasturesnounUS /ˈpæstʃərz/
plural of “pasture” — a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
spicenounUS /spaɪs/
aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
swiftnessnounUS /ˈswɪftnəs/
a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
tendingnounUS /ˈtendɪŋ/
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
push forcefully
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
up to a particular time
From this reading The birds let loose their litanies as if the blue sky and thrust of the green-stuff forward had not been known till now.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The lilacs bloomed two weeks before their time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
tranquiladjectiveUS /ˈtræŋkwəl/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The lilacs bloomed two weeks before their time.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The lilacs bloomed two weeks before their time.
accept gladly
From this reading Folk moved abroad with keen sunlight in their eyes, and in their voices a cheery welcome for their fellows.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
at the time that
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading Even Widow Lister forgot to fidget, forgot her love of gossip with a spice in it, and turned instead to tranquil tending of the garden-strip that fronted her cottage.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the sun began to warm the land again, and the sheep were crying up and down the pastures, their lambs beside them, full summer came with a swiftness rarely known in these grey highlands.
