used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a soft pleasant day late in March.
anew
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
in the past
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
(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 The snow had all gone for the present.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
at or in or to any place
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
completely unclothed
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
bird'snounUS /bɜːrdz/
possessive form of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
budsnounUS /bʌdz/
plural of “bud” — a partially opened flower
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was a soft pleasant day late in March.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
divisible by two
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The snow had all gone for the present.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The snow had all gone for the present.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The snow had all gone for the present.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a soft pleasant day late in March.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a soft pleasant day late in March.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It was a soft pleasant day late in March.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
engage in
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
march in a procession
From this reading It was a soft pleasant day late in March.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
not any; not one
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
a brief written record
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading It was a soft pleasant day late in March.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The snow had all gone for the present.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
remindernounUS /riˈmaɪndər/
a message that helps you remember something
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
Shadywalk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The snow had all gone for the present.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading It was a soft pleasant day late in March.
softeradjectiveUS /ˈsɑːftər/
comparative of “soft” — yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
stemsnounUS /stemz/
plural of “stem” — (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
not in physical motion
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
express in words
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The snow had all gone for the present.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
two times
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
not known
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
someone who visits
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a soft pleasant day late in March.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading The note of a bird might be heard now and then; Matilda had twice seen the glorious colour of a blue bird's wings as they spread themselves in the light.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Doubtless it might come back again; no one could tell; in Shadywalk snow was not an unknown visitor even in April; but for the present no such reminder of winter was anywhere to be seen.
but in spite of that
From this reading The air was still and gentle; even the brown tree stems looked softer and less bare than a few weeks ago, though no bursting buds yet were there to make any real change.
