used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading It was early in April.
bloomedverbUS /bluːmd/
past form of “bloom” — produce or yield flowers
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
chimneysnounUS /ˈtʃɪmniz/
plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
clay-mud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
cowslipnounUS /ˈkaʊslɪp/
early spring flower common in British isles having fragrant yellow or sometimes purple flowers
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
dapplenoun
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading Sunday Street was in stillness, like a village in a dream.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading It was early in April.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
flecknounUS /flek/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
harrowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
hollowsnounUS /ˈhɑːloʊz/
plural of “hollow” — a cavity or space in something
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was early in April.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was early in April.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
lanesnounUS /leɪnz/
plural of “lane” — a narrow way or road
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
perfumenounUS /pərˈfjuːm/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
puddlesnounUS /ˈpʌdəlz/
plural of “puddle” — a mixture of wet clay and sand that can be used to line a pond and that is impervious to water when dry
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
rifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
rutsnounUS /rʌts/
plural of “rut” — a groove or furrow (especially one in soft earth caused by wheels)
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
spinesnounUS /spaɪnz/
plural of “spine” — the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading Sunday Street was in stillness, like a village in a dream.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Sunday Street was in stillness, like a village in a dream.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading Sunday Street was in stillness, like a village in a dream.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Sunday Street was in stillness, like a village in a dream.
violetsnounUS /ˈvaɪələts/
plural of “violet” — any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was early in April.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A soft fleck of clouds lay over the sky, so thin, so rifted, that the sinking lights of afternoon bloomed their hollows with cowslip.
wood-smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thin spines of wood-smoke rose from its chimneys, blue against the grey dapple of the clouds.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
but in spite of that
From this reading A misty warmth hung over the fields, drawing up the perfume of violets and harrowed earth, of the soft clay-mud of the lanes, not yet dry after a shower and with puddles lying in the ruts like yellow milk.
