used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
(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 gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
beginsnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnz/
plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
cranniesnounUS /ˈkræniz/
plural of “cranny” — a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
creepsnounUS /kriːps/
a disease of cattle and sheep attributed to a dietary deficiency; characterized by anemia and softening of the bones and a slow stiff gait
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
crutchnounUS /krʌtʃ/
a wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
duty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
to or in any or all places
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
far-offadjective
very far away in space or time
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
FosterverbUS /ˈfɑːstər/
promote the growth of
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
gnatsnounUS /næts/
plural of “gnat” — any of various small biting flies: midges; biting midges; black flies; sand flies
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
LancashirenounUS /ˈlæŋkəʃaɪr/
a historical area of northwestern England on the Irish Sea; noted for textiles
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
limpedverbUS /lɪmpt/
past form of “limp” — walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
mating-note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
moorsnounUS /mʊrz/
plural of “moor” — one of the Muslim people of north Africa; of mixed Arab and Berber descent; converted to Islam in the 8th century; conqueror of Spain in the 8th century
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
morris-dance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
Pendle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
performedverbUS /pərˈfɔːrmd/
past form of “perform” — carry out or perform an action
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
pretencenoun
a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
RupertnounUS /ˈruːpərt/
English leader (born in Germany) of the Royalist forces during the English Civil War (1619-1682)
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
saffronnounUS /ˈsæfrən/
Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
SimonnounUS /ˈsaɪmən/
one of the twelve Apostles (first century)
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
slantverbUS /slænt/
lie obliquely
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
STAY-AT-HOMES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
stealverbUS /stiːl/
take without the owner's consent
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
survivedverbUS /sərˈvaɪvd/
past form of “survive” — continue to live and avoid dying
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
thrushnounUS /θrʌʃ/
candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
two times
From this reading He had gone his round of the house--that empty round performed for duty’s sake twice every day--and he was hungry for the smell of the open country.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
at the time that
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading There are days when the wind creeps into hiding, and the sun comes up into a sky of blue and saffron, and the thrush begins to find his mating-note before its time.
wind'snounUS /wɪndz/
possessive form of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The gnats steal out from crannies in the walls, making pretence of a morris-dance along the slant rays of the sun; and everywhere there is a pleasant warmth and bustle, as if faith in this far-off summer, after all, had easily survived the east wind’s spite.
Windyhough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on such a day--the breeze soft from the west, and Pendle Hill all crimson in the sunset--that Rupert limped out from Windyhough on the crutch that Simon Foster had made for him.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading THE STAY-AT-HOMES WINTER is not always rough on the high moors of Lancashire.
