(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mademoiselle Lefarge had gone back to France, and Hellier ought to have been on circuit.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
bordersnounUS /ˈbɔːrdərz/
plural of “border” — a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
lacking funds
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
budsnounUS /bʌdz/
plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading But he was not in the mood for business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
circuitnounUS /ˈsɜːrkət/
an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow
From this reading Mademoiselle Lefarge had gone back to France, and Hellier ought to have been on circuit.
cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/
free from clouds
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
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 TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Mademoiselle Lefarge had gone back to France, and Hellier ought to have been on circuit.
frozeverbUS /froʊz/
inflected form of “freeze” — stop moving or become immobilized
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
the act of departing
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Mademoiselle Lefarge had gone back to France, and Hellier ought to have been on circuit.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mademoiselle Lefarge had gone back to France, and Hellier ought to have been on circuit.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he was not in the mood for business.
Hellier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mademoiselle Lefarge had gone back to France, and Hellier ought to have been on circuit.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
heraldverbUS /ˈherəld/
foreshadow or presage
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But he was not in the mood for business.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
kindlier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
immediately past
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
Lefarge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mademoiselle Lefarge had gone back to France, and Hellier ought to have been on circuit.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico
From this reading Mademoiselle Lefarge had gone back to France, and Hellier ought to have been on circuit.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading But he was not in the mood for business.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he was not in the mood for business.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Mademoiselle Lefarge had gone back to France, and Hellier ought to have been on circuit.
parksnounUS /pɑːrks/
United States civil rights leader who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery (Alabama) and so triggered the national Civil Rights movement (born in 1913)
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
pondsnounUS /pɑːndz/
plural of “pond” — a small lake
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
skatingnounUS /ˈskeɪtɪŋ/
the sport of gliding on skates
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TIME passed, and April came to London, lighting the crocuses like little lamps along the borders of the parks.
untimelyadjectiveUS /ənˈtaɪmli/
badly timed
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading But the first of May broke cloudless and warm, the herald of three weeks of perfect weather.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nothing could have been kindlier than her coming or more cruel than her going, for it froze hard during the last few days of her month; buds were brought to untimely ruin and the ice on the ponds was sufficiently thick almost for skating.
