used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading ON THE WAY It was an October afternoon.
(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 In the Concord burying-plot all was gray and brown and restful.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ON THE WAY It was an October afternoon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
astersnounUS /ˈæstərz/
plural of “aster” — any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus Aster with showy daisylike flowers
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading In the Concord burying-plot all was gray and brown and restful.
burying-plot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Concord burying-plot all was gray and brown and restful.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
ConcordnounUS /ˈkɑːnkɔːrd/
capital of the state of New Hampshire; located in south central New Hampshire on the Merrimack river
From this reading In the Concord burying-plot all was gray and brown and restful.
cradled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
earth-bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
frostsnounUS /frɔːsts/
plural of “frost” — ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
a state of high honor
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
goldenrodnounUS /ˈɡoʊldənrɑːd/
any of numerous chiefly summer-blooming and fall-blooming North American plants especially of the genus Solidago
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
death of a person
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading In the Concord burying-plot all was gray and brown and restful.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
hickorynounUS /ˈhɪkəri/
valuable tough heavy hardwood from various hickory trees
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the Concord burying-plot all was gray and brown and restful.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ON THE WAY It was an October afternoon.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
nudenounUS /nuːd/
a painting of a naked human figure
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading ON THE WAY It was an October afternoon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE WAY It was an October afternoon.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
restfuladjectiveUS /ˈrestfəl/
affording physical or mental rest
From this reading In the Concord burying-plot all was gray and brown and restful.
except for; apart from
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
selvesnounUS /selvz/
plural of “self” — your consciousness of your own identity
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
sereadjectiveUS /sɪr/
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
get rid of
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
skeletonsnounUS /ˈskelətənz/
plural of “skeleton” — something reduced to its minimal form
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
spiralsnounUS /ˈspaɪrəlz/
plural of “spiral” — a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at increasing distances from the center
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
sumacs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
tendrils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE WAY It was an October afternoon.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
in or at that place or location
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
a shaky motion
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/
plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON THE WAY It was an October afternoon.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading ON THE WAY It was an October afternoon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
in or at the place that
From this reading The first frosts had fallen, and where, a few short days before, the goldenrod had shed its autumn glory, it now stood sere and earth-bent.
willowsnounUS /ˈwɪloʊz/
plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading From the forest of oak and hickory on the one side the leaves had fallen, and lay cradled about the grave and strewn over the grassy slope that led to the little stream where willows held out their slender arms, nude, save for here and there a pale and trembling leaf.
wind-blown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late asters had lost their color and the wind-blown tendrils of summer vines were but stiff spirals, clinging to the sumacs like skeletons of their former graceful selves.
