used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
(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 She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
blackbirdsnounUS /ˈblækbərdz/
plural of “blackbird” — any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
From this reading Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
the two together, not just one
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
Cicely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
floweringnounUS /ˈflaʊərɪŋ/
the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/
the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
laburnums
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
lilacsnounUS /ˈlaɪlæks/
plural of “lilac” — any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
peoniesnounUS /ˈpiːəniz/
plural of “peony” — any of numerous plants widely cultivated for their showy single or double red or pink or white flowers
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
pipingnounUS /ˈpaɪpɪŋ/
a thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems
From this reading Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/
plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
sweetlyadverbUS /ˈswiːtli/
in an affectionate or loving manner (“sweet” is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of “sweetly”)
From this reading Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
thornsnounUS /θɔːrnz/
plural of “thorn” — something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
ThrushesnounUS /ˈθrʌʃəz/
plural of “thrush” — candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
From this reading Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.
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 She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
variationsnounUS /ˌveriˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “variation” — an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
Whitsuntidenoun
Christian holiday; the week beginning on Whitsunday (especially the first 3 days)
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
