Chapter III · _Bittersweet_

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

the state of being absent

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

plural of “basement” — the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Time stretched before him in unimaginable reckonings.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

plural of “bundle” — a collection of things wrapped or boxed together

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

plural of “dawn” — the first light of day

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

inflected form of “defy” — resist or confront with resistance

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

closed in or surrounded or included within

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Time stretched before him in unimaginable reckonings.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

a caustic substance produced by heating limestone

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

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 It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Time stretched before him in unimaginable reckonings.

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

the act of controlling by restraining someone or something

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

wet through and through; thoroughly wet

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

not in physical motion

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading Time stretched before him in unimaginable reckonings.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Time stretched before him in unimaginable reckonings.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

totally unlikely

From this reading Time stretched before him in unimaginable reckonings.

without beauty or charm

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

lacking symmetry

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

precisely as stated

From this reading H IS mother’s absence made very sad for Michael the tall thin house in Carlington Road.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

at the time that

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He felt enclosed in the restraint from which his mother had flown like a bird.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading From the window of the night-nursery he recognized for the first time the beauty of the unsymmetrical plane tree that now, when the poplars were mere swishing bundles of twigs, still defied the October winds with wide green leaves.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was now the beginning of autumn, and the leaves of the lime trees, falling to lie stained and unlovely in sodden basements, moved Michael with a sense of the long winter before him, with the unending black nights and the dark wet dawns.