touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading It, was the beginning of April.
beeches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading It, was the beginning of April.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
birches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The birds were twittering and building.
the act of breaking something
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
brownsnounUS /braʊnz/
plural of “brown” — an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The birds were twittering and building.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
commonsnounUS /ˈkɑːmənz/
a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area
From this reading The gorse was fast extending its golden empire over the commons.
copses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
empirenounUS /ˈempaɪər/
the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
From this reading The gorse was fast extending its golden empire over the commons.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading The gorse was fast extending its golden empire over the commons.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading The gorse was fast extending its golden empire over the commons.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading The gorse was fast extending its golden empire over the commons.
gorsenoun
very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe
From this reading The gorse was fast extending its golden empire over the commons.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
hazeladjectiveUS /ˈheɪzəl/
of a light brown or yellowish brown color
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It, was the beginning of April.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The gorse was fast extending its golden empire over the commons.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
Murewell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
oaksnounUS /oʊks/
plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It, was the beginning of April.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The gorse was fast extending its golden empire over the commons.
primrosesnounUS /ˈprɪmroʊzəz/
plural of “primrose” — any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
purplesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəlz/
plural of “purple” — a purple color or pigment
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
not in physical motion
From this reading On the grass commons between Murewell and Mile End the birches rose like green clouds against the browns and purples of the still leafless oaks and beeches.
sunnyadjectiveUS /ˈsʌni/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It, was the beginning of April.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
twittering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The birds were twittering and building.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It, was the beginning of April.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the sunny slopes of the copses primroses were breaking through the hazel roots and beginning to gleam along the edges of the river.
