used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
a cherished desire
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
blitheadjectiveUS /blaɪð/
lacking or showing a lack of due concern
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
blotchnounUS /blɑːttʃ/
an irregularly shaped spot
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
blue-jays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
bottomsnounUS /ˈbɑːtəmz/
plural of “bottom” — the lower side of anything
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
boyishlyadverb
like a boy
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
buoyantadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪənt/
tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
easedadjectiveUS /iːzd/
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
echoingadjectiveUS /ˈekoʊɪŋ/
(of sounds) repeating by reflection
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
to or in any or all places
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
flintyadjectiveUS /ˈflɪnti/
containing flint
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading A rabbit ran out into the road and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over.
leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
low-hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
not any; not one
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A rabbit ran out into the road and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A rabbit ran out into the road and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over.
pebblyadjective
abounding in small stones
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
the possibility of future success
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
rabbitnounUS /ˈræbət/
any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food
From this reading A rabbit ran out into the road and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading A rabbit ran out into the road and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
an educational institution
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
soundingadjectiveUS /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A rabbit ran out into the road and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading A rabbit ran out into the road and stopped, and with a stone I knocked it over.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
teachingnounUS /ˈtiːtʃɪŋ/
the profession of a teacher
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
thrilledadjectiveUS /θrɪld/
feeling intense pleasurable excitement
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It must have been a low-hanging ambition to be thrilled with the prospect of teaching school, or was it buoyant health that made me happy?
tree's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading I eased down my trunk, and boyishly threw stones away off into an echoing hollow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
in or at the place that
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The month was April, and the day was blithe, with no blotch in the sky.
woodpeckernounUS /ˈwʊdpekər/
bird with strong claws and a stiff tail adapted for climbing and a hard chisel-like bill for boring into wood for insects
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The country was rough, the road was pebbly in the bottoms and flinty on the hills, but there was a leaping joy everywhere; in the woods where the blue-jays were shouting, down the branch where the woodpecker tapped in an oak tree's sounding board.
