used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
from appearances alone
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
aviatorsnounUS /ˈeɪvieɪtərz/
plural of “aviator” — someone who operates an aircraft
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
BAFFLEDnounUS /ˈbæfəld/
people who are frustrated and perplexed
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
the two together, not just one
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading "He must have climbed out of this window in the side of the wall," observed Tom.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
cooingverbUS /ˈkuːɪŋ/
-ing form of “coo” — speak softly or lovingly
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
engage in
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "He must have climbed out of this window in the side of the wall," observed Tom.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "He must have climbed out of this window in the side of the wall," observed Tom.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "He must have climbed out of this window in the side of the wall," observed Tom.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
pigeonsnounUS /ˈpɪdʒənz/
plural of “pigeon” — wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
express in words
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading "He must have climbed out of this window in the side of the wall," observed Tom.
skippedverbUS /skɪpt/
inflected form of “skip” — bypass
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
sociableadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊʃəbəl/
inclined to or conducive to companionship with others
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
SPYverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
not in physical motion
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "He must have climbed out of this window in the side of the wall," observed Tom.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
male cat
From this reading "He must have climbed out of this window in the side of the wall," observed Tom.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The birds had been still up to then, but now commenced to make cooing sounds, as though pleased at having human company.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading "He must have climbed out of this window in the side of the wall," observed Tom.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Apparently they were inclined to be sociable, as Jack afterwards put it.
wickernounUS /ˈwɪkər/
slender flexible branches or twigs (especially of willow or some canes); used for wickerwork
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading "He must have climbed out of this window in the side of the wall," observed Tom.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "So he discovered us coming along," Jack went on to say, "and skipped out in such a hurry he didn't have time to carry away the cage with him."
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A SPY BAFFLED Both young aviators stared at the wicker cage containing the two pigeons.
