Chapter XXIII · Leveling Down

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

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

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

From this reading The smell of spring was in the air, the intoxicating sense of youth and health and happiness.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

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

From this reading Margaret and Halloran were married in the late spring.

fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

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

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

plural of “billow” — a large sea wave

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

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

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

plural of “breath” — the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

an onerous or difficult concern

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

a railcar where passengers ride

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

in mental comfort; without stress

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

plural of “daisy” — any of numerous composite plants having flower heads with well-developed ray flowers usually arranged in a single whorl

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

having a pattern of dots

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

emptied or exhausted of (as by drawing off e.g. water or other liquid)

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

having escaped, especially from confinement

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

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

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

pleasant-smelling

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

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

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

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

From this reading Margaret and Halloran were married in the late spring.

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

From this reading The smell of spring was in the air, the intoxicating sense of youth and health and happiness.

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading The smell of spring was in the air, the intoxicating sense of youth and health and happiness.

advanced in complexity or elaboration

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

the side or slope of a hill

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

a holiday taken by a newly married couple

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

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

From this reading Margaret and Halloran were married in the late spring.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

causing intoxication

From this reading The smell of spring was in the air, the intoxicating sense of youth and health and happiness.

running at a jog trot as a form of cardiopulmonary exercise

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading Margaret and Halloran were married in the late spring.

plural of “ledge” — a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

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

From this reading Margaret and Halloran were married in the late spring.

joined in matrimony

From this reading Margaret and Halloran were married in the late spring.

plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

attractively old-fashioned (but not necessarily authentic)

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

and nothing more

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

plural of “orchard” — garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

a light shade of red

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

edge of a way or road or path

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading And as they rolled comfortably along behind the jogging white horses they could only look at each other and draw in deep breaths of the fragrant, buoyant air, and be glad.

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

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading The smell of spring was in the air, the intoxicating sense of youth and health and happiness.

plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading The smell of spring was in the air, the intoxicating sense of youth and health and happiness.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

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

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

the season of growth

From this reading Margaret and Halloran were married in the late spring.

not in physical motion

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

sweet fleshy red fruit

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

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

From this reading Margaret and Halloran were married in the late spring.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

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

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

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

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

plural of “violet” — any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

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

From this reading The smell of spring was in the air, the intoxicating sense of youth and health and happiness.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

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

From this reading Margaret and Halloran were married in the late spring.

plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

at the time that

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

in or at the place that

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

a Caucasian

From this reading For their honeymoon they went back to the mountains at the time when the apple buds were bursting into billows of pink and white in hillside orchards.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The song-sparrows and robins sang for them as they drove up from the village; the brook, boisterous with a burden drained from higher slopes where the snow still lingered under northern ledges, brawled almost at the carriage wheels; millions of violets dotted the roadside, and white strawberry blossoms and the first daisies, and forget-me-nots that had escaped from some old-time garden.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading The smell of spring was in the air, the intoxicating sense of youth and health and happiness.