Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

a light shade of blue

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

resembling a fork; divided or separated into two branches

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

a path over which electrical signals can pass

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

coming down or downward

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

color with dye

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

past form of “flaunt” — display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

any creature of exceptional size

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

coins made of gold

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

abounding in grass

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

plural of “hyacinth” — a red transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

closed with a lace

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

plural of “lamb” — young sheep

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

wood of a larch tree

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

most important element

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

become covered with mist

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

not any; not one

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

used of a height or viewpoint

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

so as to be palpable

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

past form of “pour” — cause to run

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

a large or extra supply of something

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

in the near future

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

the season of growth

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

marked with an asterisk

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

not in physical motion

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

plural of “supply” — an amount of something available for use

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.

a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

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 Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

having no limits in range or scope

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

up to a particular time

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

plural of “veil” — a garment that covers the head and face

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Gorse bushes flaunted their colour, larch trees hung out their tassels and celandines starred the bright green grass in an air which seemed palpably blue.

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the high land overlooking the distant channel and the hills beyond it, the spring day, set in azure, was laced with gold and green.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading There were sheep and lambs bleating in the fields, birds sang with a piercing sweetness, and no human being was in sight until, up on the broad grassy track which branched off from the main road and had the larch wood on one side and, on the other, rough descending fields, there appeared a woman on a horse.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading Far away, the channel might have been a still, blue lake, the hills wore soft blue veils and, like a giant reservoir, the deeper blue of the sky promised unlimited supplies.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It made a mist among the trees and poured itself into the ground as though to dye the earth from which hyacinths would soon spring.