used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
astersnounUS /ˈæstərz/
plural of “aster” — any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus Aster with showy daisylike flowers
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
barenessnoun
a bleak and desolate atmosphere
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
beechnounUS /biːtʃ/
any of several large deciduous trees with rounded spreading crowns and smooth grey bark and small sweet edible triangular nuts enclosed in burs; north temperate regions
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
coppernounUS /ˈkɑːpər/
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
creepernoun
any plant (as ivy or periwinkle) that grows by creeping
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
dahlias
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
drapedadjectiveUS /dreɪpt/
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
gladiolusnounUS /ˌɡlædiˈoʊləs/
any of numerous plants of the genus Gladiolus native chiefly to tropical and South Africa having sword-shaped leaves and one-sided spikes of brightly colored funnel-shaped flowers; widely cultivated
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
hammocknounUS /ˈhæmək/
a small natural hill
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
languidlyadverb
in a languid and lethargic manner
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
Lansing'snounUS /ˈlænsɪŋz/
possessive form of “lansing” — capital of the state of Michigan; located in southern Michigan on the Grand River
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
the literary culture
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
neighboringadjectiveUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
pensivelyadverb
in a pensive manner
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
prairienounUS /ˈpreri/
a treeless grassy plain
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
ranksnounUS /ræŋks/
plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
reclinedverbUS /rɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “recline” — move the upper body backwards and down
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
ribands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
SEEKSnounUS /siːks/
plural of “seek” — the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
spikesnounUS /spaɪks/
plural of “spike” — a transient variation in voltage or current
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
SYLVIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
tintsnounUS /tɪnts/
plural of “tint” — a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
VirginianounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjə/
a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
in the company of; together with
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
