used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/
moving forward
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The April thaw had set in and the air was moist and chilly.
(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 She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading The April thaw had set in and the air was moist and chilly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
uttered without voice
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/
past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By degrees Hortense succumbed to her disease.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading The April thaw had set in and the air was moist and chilly.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
cloudyadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdi/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading By degrees Hortense succumbed to her disease.
diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/
an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
From this reading By degrees Hortense succumbed to her disease.
dozedverbUS /doʊzd/
past form of “doze” — sleep lightly or for a short period of time
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
only a very short time before
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
heedingverbUS /ˈhiːdɪŋ/
-ing form of “heed” — pay close attention to; give heed to
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading By degrees Hortense succumbed to her disease.
hoppingverbUS /ˈhɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
Hortense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By degrees Hortense succumbed to her disease.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The April thaw had set in and the air was moist and chilly.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
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 She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
moistadjectiveUS /mɔɪst/
slightly wet
From this reading The April thaw had set in and the air was moist and chilly.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
not any; not one
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
revivalsnounUS /riˈvaɪvəlz/
plural of “revival” — bringing again into activity and prominence
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The April thaw had set in and the air was moist and chilly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
succumbedverbUS /səˈkʌmd/
past form of “succumb” — consent reluctantly
From this reading By degrees Hortense succumbed to her disease.
summer-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
the rays of the sun
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading The April thaw had set in and the air was moist and chilly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
throatsnounUS /θroʊts/
plural of “throat” — the passage to the stomach and lungs; in the front part of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By degrees Hortense succumbed to her disease.
twigverbUS /twɪɡ/
branch out in a twiglike manner
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
precisely as stated
From this reading She dozed nearly all day long, speaking very little and hardly heeding the questions that were breathed into her ears.
vitalitynounUS /vaɪˈtæləti/
an energetic style
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
warmernounUS /ˈwɔːrmər/
device that heats water or supplies warmth to a room
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The April thaw had set in and the air was moist and chilly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were no happy revivals of her old mood now; no flickering of the old vitality that had brightened other lives besides her own.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading There was something cloudy and oppressive in the very atmosphere one breathed, but as the days wore on the sunshine grew warmer and brighter, and the birds hopping from twig to twig cleared their little throats and sang forth a merry greeting to the advancing summer-time.
