Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

in actual fact

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

later than; following

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

(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 "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

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

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

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

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

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

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

plural of “begin” — Israeli statesman (born in Russia) who (as prime minister of Israel) negotiated a peace treaty with Anwar Sadat (then the president of Egypt) (1913-1992)

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

plural of “botanist” — a biologist specializing in the study of plants

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

curled or wound (especially in concentric rings or spirals)

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

plural of “die” — a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

separated into parts or pieces

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

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

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

plural of “fern” — any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

compound leaf of a fern or palm or cycad

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

third-person singular of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

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

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

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

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

plural of “lichen” — any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

plural of “moss” — tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

not any; not one

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

many times at short intervals

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

on one occasion

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

plural of “peep” — the short weak cry of a young bird

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

Identical; not different.

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

express in words

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

plural of “seaweed” — plant growing in the sea, especially marine algae

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

plural of “seed” — a small hard fruit

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

a small usually single-celled asexual reproductive body produced by many nonflowering plants and fungi and some bacteria and protozoans and that are capable of developing into a new individual without sexual fusion

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

plural of “spore” — a small usually single-celled asexual reproductive body produced by many nonflowering plants and fungi and some bacteria and protozoans and that are capable of developing into a new individual without sexual fusion

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

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

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

plural of “spring” — the season of growth

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

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

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

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

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

very small

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

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

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

up to a particular time

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

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

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

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

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading The leaf dies down, and the first frond of the new fern peeps above ground, closely coiled up, as you have often seen, if you have been through the woods in spring-time.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading The earliest forms of vegetable life, then, brought forth by the earth at the word of God were the plants which have no seeds: botanists have divided such plants into groups--the seaweeds and lichens, the mosses, and the ferns.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading No; if they were seeds, each would at once grow into a fern.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Then the spores are the same as seeds, after all"--you say.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading This is what happens, as far as I can explain it to you: from the spore springs a tiny leaf, which roots itself, and it is from this green leaf that the young fern actually grows, until it, as it were, begins life on its own account.