adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
achieveverbUS /əˈtʃiːv/
to gain with effort
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
advanceverbUS /ədˈvæns/
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
aerialnounUS /ˈeriəl/
a pass to a receiver downfield from the passer
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
ambernounUS /ˈæmbər/
a deep yellow color
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
ambitionnounUS /æmˈbɪʃən/
a cherished desire
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
banknounUS /bæŋk/
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
battlenounUS /ˈbætəl/
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
blewverbUS /bluː/
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/
brought into existence
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
branchnounUS /bræntʃ/
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
chestnutsnounUS /ˈtʃesnəts/
plural of “chestnut” — wood of any of various chestnut trees of the genus Castanea
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
climbedverbUS /klaɪmd/
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
conquerverbUS /ˈkɑːŋkər/
bring under control by force or authority
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
cornfieldsnounUS /ˈkɔːrnˈfiːldz/
plural of “cornfield” — a field planted with corn
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
creaturenounUS /ˈkriːtʃər/
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
declivitynoun
a downward slope or bend
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
elementaladjectiveUS /ˌeləˈmentəl/
relating to or being an element
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
exhilaratingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/
making lively and cheerful
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
forcesnounUS /ˈfɔːrsɪz/
plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
forestnounUS /ˈfɔːrəst/
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
freeverbUS /friː/
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/
comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
hickorynounUS /ˈhɪkəri/
valuable tough heavy hardwood from various hickory trees
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
ladnounUS /læd/
a boy or man
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
litheadjectiveUS /laɪð/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
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 On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
loudadjectiveUS /laʊd/
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
maplesnounUS /ˈmeɪpəlz/
plural of “maple” — wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
pasture-land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
perchnounUS /pɜːrtʃ/
support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
picketnounUS /ˈpɪkɪt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/
with speed
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
recklesslyadverbUS /ˈrekləsli/
in a reckless manner
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
resistverbUS /rɪˈzɪst/
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
rockyadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːki/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
sportnounUS /spɔːrt/
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
statelyadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtli/
impressive in appearance
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
stirredadjectiveUS /stɜːrd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Nature was taking him by the hand, and it might be that in that moment ambition was born to achieve for himself, to conquer.
talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
topnounUS /tɑːp/
the upper part of anything
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
topmostadjective
at or nearest to the top
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
toughadjectiveUS /tʌf/
not given to gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
traditionnounUS /trəˈdɪʃən/
an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
treenounUS /triː/
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
twelvenounUS /twelv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
unceasingadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːsɪŋ/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
urgeverbUS /ɜːrdʒ/
force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
westernadjectiveUS /ˈwestərn/
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 He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading The tree was on the edge of a steep declivity of rocky pasture-land that fell rapidly down to the stately chestnuts, to the orchard, to the cornfields in the narrow valley, and the maples on the bank of the amber river, whose loud, unceasing murmur came to the lad on his aerial perch like the voice of some tradition of nature that he could not understand.
wideradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdər/
comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading There was something exhilarating in this elemental battle of the forces that urge and the forces that resist, and the harder the wind blew, and the wider circles he took in the free air, the more stirred the boy was in the spring of his life.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had climbed to the topmost branch of the lithe and tough tree in order to take the full swing of this free creature in its sport with the western wind.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading On a summer day, long gone among the summer days that come but to go, a lad of twelve years was idly and recklessly swinging in the top of a tall hickory, the advance picket of a mountain forest.
