used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
alleysnounUS /ˈæliz/
plural of “alley” — a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
breachverbUS /briːtʃ/
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
brick-paved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
carpentrynounUS /ˈkɑːrpəntri/
the craft of a carpenter: making things out of wood
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
civilized-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
close-pressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
cookerynoun
the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
enchantedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtʃæn.tɪd/
Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
FelicianounUS /fəˈliːʃə/
genus of tropical African herbs or subshrubs with usually blue flowers
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
a state of high honor
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
half-formal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
HEDGEverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
investigatedverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪtəd/
past form of “investigate” — investigate scientifically
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
KennounUS /ken/
range of what one can know or understand
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
KirknounUS /kɜːrk/
a Scottish church
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
leafyadjectiveUS /ˈliːfi/
having or covered with leaves
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
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 He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
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 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
neglectverbUS /nəˈɡlekt/
leave undone or leave out
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
on one occasion
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
over-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
poolsnounUS /puːlz/
plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
pungentadjectiveUS /ˈpʌndʒənt/
strong and sharp
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
rimnounUS /rɪm/
the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
stone-coped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
Sturgises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
confined on all sides
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE The civilized-looking hedge had been long since investigated.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
in a way that was not expected
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
precisely as stated
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
at the time that
From this reading He and Felicia, or he and Ken, went there when cookery or carpentry left an elder free.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The plot of land it enclosed--reached, for the Sturgises, through a breach in the hedge--was very different from the wild country which surrounded it.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For Kirk, it was an enchanted land of close-pressing leafy alleys, pungent with the smell of box; of brick-paved paths chanced on unexpectedly--followed cautiously to the rim of empty, stone-coped pools.
a late time of life
From this reading The place had once been a very beautiful garden, but years and neglect had made of it a half-formal wilderness, fascinating in its over-grown beauty and its hint of earlier glory.
