used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
(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 There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For very dear to Nature's heart are the Little Dead.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
bellsnounUS /belz/
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
churchyardnounUS /ˈtʃɜːrtʃjɑːrd/
the yard associated with a church
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
cradlenounUS /ˈkreɪdəl/
a baby bed with sides and rockers
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
day-long
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
dearly loved
From this reading For very dear to Nature's heart are the Little Dead.
dewdrops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
escutcheoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For very dear to Nature's heart are the Little Dead.
grassesnounUS /ˈɡræsəz/
plural of “grass” — narrow-leaved green herbage: grown as lawns; used as pasture for grazing animals; cut and dried as hay
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
gravesnounUS /ɡreɪvz/
English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading For very dear to Nature's heart are the Little Dead.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/
in a softened tone
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
imprisonedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənd/
being in captivity
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
plural of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Yes, Earth loves nothing so much as her little graves.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Yes, Earth loves nothing so much as her little graves.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
Nature'snounUS /ˈneɪtʃərz/
possessive form of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading For very dear to Nature's heart are the Little Dead.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
nightingalenounUS /ˈnaɪtɪŋɡeɪl/
European songbird noted for its melodious nocturnal song
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Yes, Earth loves nothing so much as her little graves.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
perfumenounUS /pərˈfjuːm/
a distinctive odor that is pleasant
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
rockingverbUS /ˈrɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
snowdrops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Yes, Earth loves nothing so much as her little graves.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
in the near future
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
spreadsnounUS /spredz/
plural of “spread” — process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
thrushnounUS /θrʌʃ/
candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
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 A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
vaultsnounUS /vɔːlts/
plural of “vault” — a burial chamber (usually underground)
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
precisely as stated
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
violetsnounUS /ˈvaɪələts/
plural of “violet” — any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
accept gladly
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
at the time that
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
in or at the place that
From this reading The great dead lie imprisoned in escutcheoned vaults, but for the little dead Nature spreads out soft small graves, all snowdrops and dewdrops, where day-long they can feel the earth rocking them as in a cradle, and at night hear the hushed singing of the stars.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading A SONG OF THE LITTLE DEAD They carried little Wonder to a green churchyard, a place of kind old trees and tender country bells.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There were few birds to welcome her in the grim November morning, but the grasses stole close and whispered that very soon the thrush and the nightingale would be coming, that the violets were already on their way, and that when May was there she should lie all day in a bed of perfume.
an affirmative
From this reading Yes, Earth loves nothing so much as her little graves.
