Chapter IV · Chapter 4

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading came at last.

lacking hair on all or most of the scalp

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

large or big relative to something else

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

a partially opened flower

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading came at last.

floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

comparative of “cold” — having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

plural of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

plural of “eagle” — any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

duck of the northern hemisphere much valued for the fine soft down of the females

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

immediately past

From this reading came at last.

plural of “latitude” — the angular distance between an imaginary line around a heavenly body parallel to its equator and the equator itself

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

changed from a solid to a liquid state

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

used of animals that move seasonally

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

not any; not one

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

amounting to a large indefinite number

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

plural of “puffin” — any of two genera of northern seabirds having short necks and brightly colored compressed bills

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

having red hair and usually fair skin

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

travel on the surface of water

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

that is looked for

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

plural of “swan” — stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

formalwear consisting of full evening dress for men

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

the act of drawing a plan or diagram or outline

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.

device that heats water or supplies warmth to a room

From this reading A few migratory birds from the south-such as swans, bald-headed eagles, &c.—passed through the warmer air.

in or at the place that

From this reading The green carpet of the hills began to appear here and there where the snow had melted.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix

From this reading The poplars, birches, and willows began to bud, and the redheaded ducks, of which there are so many species in North America, to skim the surface of the numerous pools formed by the melted snow.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Guillemots, puffins, and eider ducks sought colder latitudes; and little shrews no bigger than a hazel-nut ventured from their holes, tracing strange figures on the ground with their tiny-pointed tails.