Chapter IV · Chapter 4

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

open to or abounding in fresh air

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

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

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

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

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

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

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

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

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

divisible by two

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

possessive form of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

marked by refinement in taste and manners

From this reading Growing feathers is genteel."

the act of acquiring something

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

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

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading Growing feathers is genteel."

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

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

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

a large number or amount

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

To recall to mind.

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

express in words

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

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

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

the season of growth

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

not in physical motion

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

express a supposition

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

carry out

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

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

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

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

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading We suppose you might call it work to grow feathers for her, still it does not take much of our time, and it is quite different from drawing loads and getting tired as the Horses and Oxen do.

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

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading They are plucked four times before fall comes, and these four times come so near together that even they can remember from one to another.

plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

at the time that

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading Every winter the Geese forget about having to be plucked, and every spring they are surprised to lose their feathers.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

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

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

an affirmative

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You would think that then they would not be so airy, but instead of saying, "Of course we work for our living--why shouldn't we?" they say, "Why, yes, we do let the farmer's wife have some of our feathers when she wants them.