used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
anew
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
eagerly desirous
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
birches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
broodverbUS /bruːd/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
a young person of either sex
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
at any time
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
opinion or judgment
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
fecundating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
furtiveadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtɪv/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
destroyed or killed
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
heartenedverbUS /ˈhɑːrtənd/
past form of “hearten” — give encouragement to
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
heatsnounUS /hiːts/
plural of “heat” — a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
hennounUS /hen/
adult female chicken
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
initiatedverbUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃieɪtəd/
past form of “initiate” — bring into being
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
Kirstie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
Kroof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
lurenounUS /lʊr/
qualities that attract by seeming to promise some kind of reward
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
Miranda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
mossesnounUS /ˈmɔːsəz/
plural of “moss” — tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
mysticadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstɪk/
having an import not apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence; beyond ordinary understanding
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
new-hatched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
and nothing more
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
partridgenounUS /ˈpɑːrtrədʒ/
flesh of either quail or grouse
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
realmnounUS /relm/
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
reappearedverbUS /ˌriːəˈpɪrd/
past form of “reappear” — appear again
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
unusual or striking
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
she-bear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
in the near future
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
thicketnounUS /ˈθɪkɪt/
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
transparentadjectiveUS /trænˈsperənt/
transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
a vivid mental image
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
look attentively
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A little later when the mosses were dry, and when the ground was well heartened with the fecundating heats of June, Miranda had further proof of her peculiar powers of vision.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
at the time that
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading As soon as the snow was gone, and the ancient wood again began to lure Miranda with its mystic stillness and transparent twilight, Kroof reappeared, as devoted as ever.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading When Kroof was absent, the woods were to the child a forbidden realm, into which she could only peer with longing and watch the furtive folk with those initiated eyes of hers.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading After this experience, Kirstie would have been more anxious than before about Miranda, had it not been for the child’s remarkable friendship with the great she-bear.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading One day she and Kroof came upon a partridge hen with her new-hatched brood, at the edge of a thicket of young birches.
