the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air was full of the indescribable fragrance of bursting flowers.
(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 THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
for the reason that
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
bloomnounUS /bluːm/
the organic process of bearing flowers
From this reading The fruit trees were in bloom.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The air was full of the indescribable fragrance of bursting flowers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There was no single note of sadness in all the splendid day.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading The air was full of the indescribable fragrance of bursting flowers.
fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading The air was full of the indescribable fragrance of bursting flowers.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading The fruit trees were in bloom.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The air was full of the indescribable fragrance of bursting flowers.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
indescribableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈskraɪbəbəl/
defying expression or description
From this reading The air was full of the indescribable fragrance of bursting flowers.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
lilacsnounUS /ˈlaɪlæks/
plural of “lilac” — any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
ManornounUS /ˈmænər/
the mansion of a lord or wealthy person
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no single note of sadness in all the splendid day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
a brief written record
From this reading There was no single note of sadness in all the splendid day.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The air was full of the indescribable fragrance of bursting flowers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
ORDEALnounUS /ɔːrˈdiːl/
a severe or trying experience
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
sadnessnounUS /ˈsædnəs/
emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being
From this reading There was no single note of sadness in all the splendid day.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading There was no single note of sadness in all the splendid day.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading There was no single note of sadness in all the splendid day.
sweetnessnounUS /ˈswiːtnəs/
the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no single note of sadness in all the splendid day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The fruit trees were in bloom.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The air was full of the indescribable fragrance of bursting flowers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE FIRST ORDEAL All the birds in the Manor garden were singing on that afternoon in May.
which person or people
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But the woman who paced slowly to and fro under the opening lilacs because she could not rest knew nothing of its sweetness.
