used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
anew
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
(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 For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The paint we had put on, inside the house, was chipped and scratched already.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
bulbsnounUS /bʌlbz/
plural of “bulb” — a modified bud consisting of a thickened globular underground stem serving as a reproductive structure
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It looked shabbier and more forlorn when we left it, than when we came.
chippedverbUS /tʃɪpt/
inflected form of “chip” — break off (a piece from a whole)
From this reading The paint we had put on, inside the house, was chipped and scratched already.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading It looked shabbier and more forlorn when we left it, than when we came.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
Hampstead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading The paint we had put on, inside the house, was chipped and scratched already.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
immediately past
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
go away from a place
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It looked shabbier and more forlorn when we left it, than when we came.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It looked shabbier and more forlorn when we left it, than when we came.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
not any; not one
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The paint we had put on, inside the house, was chipped and scratched already.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
paintverbUS /peɪnt/
make a painting
From this reading The paint we had put on, inside the house, was chipped and scratched already.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The paint we had put on, inside the house, was chipped and scratched already.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
scratchedverbUS /skrætʃt/
past form of “scratch” — cause friction
From this reading The paint we had put on, inside the house, was chipped and scratched already.
shabbier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It looked shabbier and more forlorn when we left it, than when we came.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
the season of growth
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It looked shabbier and more forlorn when we left it, than when we came.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For a time, when we lived there first, it had been better; when the garden was in order, and the bulbs came up in the Spring; but the grass was all ragged again now, and I had planted no bulbs that Autumn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And so we left our house in Hampstead, and I was glad to leave it.
at the time that
From this reading It looked shabbier and more forlorn when we left it, than when we came.
produce a literary work
From this reading He said: ‘I shall have time at last to write my book.’
