adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
amissadjectiveUS /əˈmɪs/
not functioning properly
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
attacknounUS /əˈtæk/
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
awokeverbUS /əˈwoʊk/
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
BecketnounUS /ˈbekət/
(Roman Catholic Church) archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170; murdered following his opposition to Henry II's attempts to control the clergy (1118-1170)
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
blackbirdsnounUS /ˈblækbərdz/
plural of “blackbird” — any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
bloodnounUS /blʌd/
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
cacoethesnoun
an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
darkishadjective
slightly dark
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/
a female human offspring
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
dewnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
dusty-coated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
eastnounUS /iːst/
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
Felix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
fieldnounUS /fiːld/
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
flashingnounUS /ˈflæʃɪŋ/
a short vivid experience
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
flungverbUS /flʌŋ/
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
Hampstead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
leavesnounUS /liːvz/
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
lovenounUS /lʌv/
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
meetverbUS /miːt/
come together
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
morningsnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
Nedda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
ostrichnounUS /ˈɔːstrɪtʃ/
a person who refuses to face reality or recognize the truth (a reference to the popular notion that the ostrich hides from danger by burying its head in the sand)
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
rain-drops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
scribendi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
shiververbUS /ˈʃɪvər/
tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
sievingverbUS /ˈsɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “sieve” — examine in order to test suitability
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
singverbUS /sɪŋ/
deliver by singing
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
songsnounUS /sɔːŋz/
plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
sou'westadverb
to, toward, or in the southwest
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
SpringnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
StormedverbUS /stɔːrmd/
past form of “storm” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
sungnounUS /sʌŋ/
the imperial dynasty of China from 960 to 1279; noted for art and literature and philosophy
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
thrushesnounUS /ˈθrʌʃəz/
plural of “thrush” — candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
