used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Joan sat in her kitchen, on a low stool by the hearth.
anew
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
blackbirdsnounUS /ˈblækbərdz/
plural of “blackbird” — any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
From this reading The blackbirds came in flocks to the ploughed fields.
budsnounUS /bʌdz/
plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Joan sat in her kitchen, on a low stool by the hearth.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The blackbirds came in flocks to the ploughed fields.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading The room was clean, with shafts of sunlight slanting in.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
a small house with a single story
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
death'snounUS /deθs/
possessive form of “death” — the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
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 HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
emeraldnounUS /ˈemrəld/
a green transparent form of beryl; highly valued as a gemstone
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading The blackbirds came in flocks to the ploughed fields.
flocksnounUS /flɑːks/
plural of “flock” — a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading The blackbirds came in flocks to the ploughed fields.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
haltingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːltɪŋ/
disabled in the feet or legs
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Joan sat in her kitchen, on a low stool by the hearth.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Joan sat in her kitchen, on a low stool by the hearth.
HERON'SnounUS /ˈherənz/
possessive form of “heron” — Greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century)
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The blackbirds came in flocks to the ploughed fields.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan sat in her kitchen, on a low stool by the hearth.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Joan sat in her kitchen, on a low stool by the hearth.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Joan sat in her kitchen, on a low stool by the hearth.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
the force of workers available
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
ploughnounUS /plaʊ/
a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
ploughedadjectiveUS /plaʊd/
(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow
From this reading The blackbirds came in flocks to the ploughed fields.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was clean, with shafts of sunlight slanting in.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Joan sat in her kitchen, on a low stool by the hearth.
shaftsnounUS /ʃæfts/
plural of “shaft” — a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading The room was clean, with shafts of sunlight slanting in.
slantingadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading The room was clean, with shafts of sunlight slanting in.
the season of growth
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading Joan sat in her kitchen, on a low stool by the hearth.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The room was clean, with shafts of sunlight slanting in.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The blackbirds came in flocks to the ploughed fields.
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 HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
unfoldedverbUS /ənˈfoʊldɪd/
past form of “unfold” — develop or come to a promising stage
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
which person or people
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The room was clean, with shafts of sunlight slanting in.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading But this year there were many fields that were not ploughed; dead men could not plough, nor those who had been to death’s door and were coming halting, halting back.
but in spite of that
From this reading HERON’S COTTAGE IT was early spring again, and on the fruit trees pale emerald buds of yet unfolded leaves.
