used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
(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 We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
aspennounUS /ˈæspən/
any of several trees of the genus Populus having leaves on flattened stalks so that they flutter in the lightest wind
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
carefulnessnounUS /ˈkerfəlnes/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
a person who is in charge
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
demanding attention
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
draperiesnounUS /ˈdreɪpəriz/
plural of “drapery” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
an act that fails
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
flirtverbUS /flɜːrt/
talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
gigglingverbUS /ˈɡɪɡəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “giggle” — laugh nervously
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
Lettie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
sentimentalitynounUS /ˌsentəmenˈtælɪti/
falsely emotional in a maudlin way
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
that is looked for
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
titteringadjective
being or sounding of nervous or suppressed laughter
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
a source of difficulty
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
unansweredadjectiveUS /ˌʌˈnænsərd/
not returned in kind
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was not that we suffered a great grief; the chief trouble was the unanswered crying of failure.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But we were changed in our feelings and in our relations; there was a new consciousness, a new carefulness.
which person or people
From this reading The death of the man who was our father changed our lives.
wood-pigeons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading We had lived between the woods and the water all our lives, Lettie and I, and she had sought the bright notes in everything.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She seemed to hear the water laughing, and the leaves tittering and giggling like young girls; the aspen fluttered like the draperies of a flirt, and the sound of the wood-pigeons was almost foolish in its sentimentality.
