used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But the wind dies down in a fiery sunset.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
(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 three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
awakeningnounUS /əˈweɪkənɪŋ/
the act of waking
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
completely unclothed
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
terminate
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading With the darkness comes a warm breath out of the west.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the wind dies down in a fiery sunset.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading With the darkness comes a warm breath out of the west.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
coweringverbUS /ˈkaʊərɪŋ/
-ing form of “cower” — crouch or curl up
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading With the darkness comes a warm breath out of the west.
dearthnounUS /dɜːrθ/
an acute insufficiency
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
diesnounUS /daɪz/
plural of “die” — a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers
From this reading But the wind dies down in a fiery sunset.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But the wind dies down in a fiery sunset.
elm-blossom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
fieryadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪəri/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading But the wind dies down in a fiery sunset.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
lambsnounUS /læmz/
plural of “lamb” — young sheep
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
lashverbUS /læʃ/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/
deprived of life; no longer living
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
march in a procession
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With the darkness comes a warm breath out of the west.
possessing material wealth
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
Identical; not different.
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
the season of growth
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading But the wind dies down in a fiery sunset.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
tokensnounUS /ˈtoʊkənz/
plural of “token” — an individual instance of a type of symbol
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
unpremeditatedadjective
not prepared or planned in advance
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading With the darkness comes a warm breath out of the west.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading With the darkness comes a warm breath out of the west.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading All three come together about the end of February or beginning of March, and break into the winter dearth and silence in much the same sudden, unpremeditated way.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the darkness comes a warm breath out of the west.
woodlandsnounUS /ˈwʊdlændz/
plural of “woodland” — land that is covered with trees and shrubs
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You look at the woodlands, cowering under the lash of the shrill north wind, and all seems bare and black and lifeless.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading THERE are three great tokens of the coming of spring in the country—the elm-blossom, the cry of the young lambs, and the first rich song of the awakening bees.
