used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Beyond the hollies and thorns rose the branches of an orchard, and beyond the orchard a plantation of yews, hollies, and black spruces.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
BEGGARnounUS /ˈbeɡər/
a pauper who lives by begging
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond the hollies and thorns rose the branches of an orchard, and beyond the orchard a plantation of yews, hollies, and black spruces.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Beyond the hollies and thorns rose the branches of an orchard, and beyond the orchard a plantation of yews, hollies, and black spruces.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Beyond the hollies and thorns rose the branches of an orchard, and beyond the orchard a plantation of yews, hollies, and black spruces.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
Carfaxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
chestnutadjectiveUS /ˈtʃesnʌt/
(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
a small house with a single story
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
distinguishableadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəbəl/
capable of being perceived as different or distinct
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
enclose with a fence
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
firsnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fir” — nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
only a very short time before
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
holliesnounUS /ˈhɑːliz/
plural of “holly” — any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex having red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
IMPORTUNATEadjective
expressing persistant and earnest entreaty
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
a narrow way or road
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
LavenderadjectiveUS /ˈlævəndər/
of a pale purple color
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
lichened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
and nothing more
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
mouldverbUS /moʊld/
form in clay, wax, etc
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
oaksnounUS /oʊks/
plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading Beyond the hollies and thorns rose the branches of an orchard, and beyond the orchard a plantation of yews, hollies, and black spruces.
OrchardsnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərdz/
plural of “orchard” — garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
plantationnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃən/
an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
From this reading Beyond the hollies and thorns rose the branches of an orchard, and beyond the orchard a plantation of yews, hollies, and black spruces.
red-brickadjective
of or relating to British universities founded in the late 19th century or the 20th century
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Beyond the hollies and thorns rose the branches of an orchard, and beyond the orchard a plantation of yews, hollies, and black spruces.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
cut with a saw
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
ScotsnounUS /skɑːts/
the dialect of English used in Scotland
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
spruces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond the hollies and thorns rose the branches of an orchard, and beyond the orchard a plantation of yews, hollies, and black spruces.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
tanglenounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE IMPORTUNATE BEGGAR As Lavender had said, the Carfaxes lived at Orchards Corner.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
thornsnounUS /θɔːrnz/
plural of “thorn” — something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
tilingnoun
the application of tiles to cover a surface
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
up to a particular time
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
the upper part of anything
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house or cottage was hardly distinguishable till you turned down into the lane from the high road.
a Caucasian
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading It betrayed itself merely by the corner of a white window frame, the top of a red-brick chimney, and a patch of lichened tiling visible through the tangle of foliage.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
yews
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond the hollies and thorns rose the branches of an orchard, and beyond the orchard a plantation of yews, hollies, and black spruces.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Approaching the place you saw a line of scattered oaks and Scots firs, with straggling thorns and hollies between them along the line of a chestnut fence that had turned green with mould.
