used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ALL ON A BRIGHT MARCH 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 ALL ON A BRIGHT MARCH MORNING.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
completely unclothed
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading ALL ON A BRIGHT MARCH MORNING.
budsnounUS /bʌdz/
plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
coloniesnounUS /ˈkɑːləniz/
plural of “colony” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading The sedgy pools and ditches in the forest were noisy with the hoarse croaking of colonies of frogs.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/
affected with madness or insanity
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
croakingnounUS /ˈkroʊkɪŋ/
a harsh hoarse utterance (as of a frog)
From this reading The sedgy pools and ditches in the forest were noisy with the hoarse croaking of colonies of frogs.
daffydowndillies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
ditchesnounUS /ˈdɪtʃəz/
plural of “ditch” — a long narrow excavation in the earth
From this reading The sedgy pools and ditches in the forest were noisy with the hoarse croaking of colonies of frogs.
dottedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːtəd/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
elmsnounUS /elmz/
plural of “elm” — any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The sedgy pools and ditches in the forest were noisy with the hoarse croaking of colonies of frogs.
framedadjectiveUS /freɪmd/
provided with a frame
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
frogsnounUS /frɑːɡz/
plural of “frog” — any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species
From this reading The sedgy pools and ditches in the forest were noisy with the hoarse croaking of colonies of frogs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
hawthornnounUS /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/
a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
hedgesnounUS /ˈhedʒɪz/
plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
hoarseadjectiveUS /hɔːrs/
deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
From this reading The sedgy pools and ditches in the forest were noisy with the hoarse croaking of colonies of frogs.
house-building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
march in a procession
From this reading ALL ON A BRIGHT MARCH MORNING.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading ALL ON A BRIGHT MARCH MORNING.
nestsnounUS /nests/
plural of “nest” — a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
noddingadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːdɪŋ/
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading The sedgy pools and ditches in the forest were noisy with the hoarse croaking of colonies of frogs.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ALL ON A BRIGHT MARCH MORNING.
ploughmannoun
a man who plows
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading The sedgy pools and ditches in the forest were noisy with the hoarse croaking of colonies of frogs.
predatoryadjectiveUS /ˈpredətɔːri/
characterized by plundering or pillaging or marauding
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
pryingnounUS /ˈpraɪɪŋ/
offensive inquisitiveness
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
rooksnounUS /rʊks/
plural of “rook” — (chess) the piece that can move any number of unoccupied squares in a direction parallel to the sides of the chessboard
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
sedgyadjective
covered with sedges (grasslike marsh plants)
From this reading The sedgy pools and ditches in the forest were noisy with the hoarse croaking of colonies of frogs.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
not in physical motion
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
succulentnounUS /ˈsʌkjəlɪnt/
a plant adapted to arid conditions and characterized by fleshy water-storing tissues that act as water reservoirs
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
urchinsnounUS /ˈɜːrtʃənz/
plural of “urchin” — poor and often mischievous city child
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
waxingnounUS /ˈwæksɪŋ/
the application of wax to a surface
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The March winds were blowing, and the daffydowndillies were nodding merry heads in the sunshine.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The hawthorn hedges were dotted with the bright green of bursting buds; and behind this promise of cover from the prying eyes of predatory urchins, the small birds were busy house-building.
wormsnounUS /wɜːrmz/
plural of “worm” — any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
From this reading The tall elms were still bare of leaves, but the rooks had framed their crazy nests, and were now busy following the ploughman, and waxing fat on succulent worms.
