used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
completely unclothed
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
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 He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
mattedadjective
tangled in a dense mass
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
mementosnounUS /mɪˈmentoʊz/
plural of “memento” — a reminder of past events
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Nevertheless, the earth seemed yeasty with promise.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Nevertheless, the earth seemed yeasty with promise.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Nevertheless, the earth seemed yeasty with promise.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
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 The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
trunksnounUS /trʌŋks/
(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had been lying there long hours close to the warm earth that was preparing for a new life.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The thin branches of the trees rose bare and severe between him and the blue sky, mementos of the silent winter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
yeastyadjective
of or resembling or containing yeast
From this reading Nevertheless, the earth seemed yeasty with promise.
but in spite of that
From this reading The ground about their trunks was matted with dead leaves, through which nothing green had yet pushed its way.
