used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading If you not only have an impoverished and shady garden, but one under the drip of trees, you will not be able to do much with it.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
(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 around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If you not only have an impoverished and shady garden, but one under the drip of trees, you will not be able to do much with it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
coarse-growing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
CrocusesnounUS /ˈkroʊkjuːsɪz/
plural of “crocus” — any of numerous low-growing plants of the genus Crocus having slender grasslike leaves and white or yellow or purple flowers; native chiefly to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading If you not only have an impoverished and shady garden, but one under the drip of trees, you will not be able to do much with it.
dripverbUS /drɪp/
fall in drops
From this reading If you not only have an impoverished and shady garden, but one under the drip of trees, you will not be able to do much with it.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
divisible by two
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
to or in any or all places
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
flourishverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃ/
grow vigorously
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
foamyadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊmi/
producing or covered with lathery sweat or saliva from exhaustion or disease
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
grimyadjectiveUS /ˈɡraɪmi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
hardiestadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdiəst/
superlative of “hardy” — having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
hedgesnounUS /ˈhedʒɪz/
plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you not only have an impoverished and shady garden, but one under the drip of trees, you will not be able to do much with it.
impoverishedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈpɒv.ər.ɪʃt/
Reduced to poverty; having very little money or resources.
From this reading If you not only have an impoverished and shady garden, but one under the drip of trees, you will not be able to do much with it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
languishverbUS /ˈlæŋɡwɪʃ/
lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
LaurelsnounUS /ˈlɔːrəlz/
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
held or filled or in use
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
and nothing more
From this reading If you not only have an impoverished and shady garden, but one under the drip of trees, you will not be able to do much with it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
a light shade of red
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
Privetnoun
any of various Old World shrubs having smooth entire leaves and terminal panicles of small white flowers followed by small black berries; many used for hedges
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
Saxifrages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
SHADYadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdi/
quiet, dark, or concealed
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/
plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
starvedadjectiveUS /stɑːrvd/
suffering from lack of food
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
thievishadjective
given to thievery
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
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 DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading If you not only have an impoverished and shady garden, but one under the drip of trees, you will not be able to do much with it.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Even that hardiest of Saxifrages, London Pride, leads a starved life, and you cannot know how beautiful it is until you have seen it sending up masses of its foamy pink flowers in good air and from good soil.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
in or to any place at all
From this reading All around London Privet hedges and grimy Laurels are to be seen everywhere, and wherever people try to grow flowers near their thievish roots the flowers languish.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading You may put a few Crocuses in front of a group of Laurels, but you will not get much else to flourish.
in the company of; together with
From this reading If you not only have an impoverished and shady garden, but one under the drip of trees, you will not be able to do much with it.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading DIFFICULT AND SHADY GARDENS AS we told you in our first chapter, the worst piece of ground you can have for a garden is one already occupied by the roots of trees and coarse-growing shrubs or hedges.
