adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
apologiesnounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiːz/
plural of “apology” — an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading Spring came at last, brimful of excitement and apologies.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They had waited, and waited, and hung on to life just as long as they could, but they had to give in at last.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
banknounUS /bæŋk/
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Dead cattle lay on the river bank, looking sightlessly up to the sky.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
brimfuladjective
filled to capacity
From this reading Spring came at last, brimful of excitement and apologies.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Spring came at last, brimful of excitement and apologies.
cattlenounUS /ˈkætəl/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading Dead cattle lay on the river bank, looking sightlessly up to the sky.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
comesnounUS /kʌmz/
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
COMINGnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
cruellyadverbUS /ˈkruːli/
excessively
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
DeadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Dead cattle lay on the river bank, looking sightlessly up to the sky.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
effectnounUS /ɪˈfekt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
excitementnounUS /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Spring came at last, brimful of excitement and apologies.
failverbUS /feɪl/
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
forgivenverbUS /fərˈɡɪvən/
inflected form of “forgive” — stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They had waited, and waited, and hung on to life just as long as they could, but they had to give in at last.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
hungverbUS /hʌŋ/
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading They had waited, and waited, and hung on to life just as long as they could, but they had to give in at last.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
intimationsnounUS /ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃənz/
plural of “intimation” — an indirect suggestion
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading They had waited, and waited, and hung on to life just as long as they could, but they had to give in at last.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading They had waited, and waited, and hung on to life just as long as they could, but they had to give in at last.
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Dead cattle lay on the river bank, looking sightlessly up to the sky.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They had waited, and waited, and hung on to life just as long as they could, but they had to give in at last.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
lockedverbUS /lɑːkt/
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading They had waited, and waited, and hung on to life just as long as they could, but they had to give in at last.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Dead cattle lay on the river bank, looking sightlessly up to the sky.
neednounUS /niːd/
a condition requiring relief
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
notenounUS /noʊt/
a brief written record
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
pinnedverbUS /pɪnd/
inflected form of “pin” — to hold fast or prevent from moving
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Dead cattle lay on the river bank, looking sightlessly up to the sky.
seasonnounUS /ˈsiːzən/
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
sightlessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dead cattle lay on the river bank, looking sightlessly up to the sky.
skynounUS /skaɪ/
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Dead cattle lay on the river bank, looking sightlessly up to the sky.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
SPRINGnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
tellingadjectiveUS /ˈtelɪŋ/
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had waited, and waited, and hung on to life just as long as they could, but they had to give in at last.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/
a source of difficulty
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Dead cattle lay on the river bank, looking sightlessly up to the sky.
waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading They had waited, and waited, and hung on to life just as long as they could, but they had to give in at last.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THE COMING OF SPRING The Spring was late, cruelly late, so late indeed that if it had been anything else but a season, it would have found itself in serious trouble--with the door locked and a note pinned on the outside telling it if it could not come in time it need not come at all.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But the Spring has to be taken in, whenever it comes--and be forgiven too, and even if there were no note on the door, there were other intimations of like effect, which no intelligent young Spring could fail to understand.
