used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
boat-shapedadjective
having a concave shape like a boat
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
greatly pleased
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
GandernounUS /ˈɡændər/
mature male goose
From this reading The Gander noticed that they were remarkably homely feet.
GeesenounUS /ɡiːs/
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
homelyadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmli/
lacking in physical beauty or proportion
From this reading The Gander noticed that they were remarkably homely feet.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
newcomernounUS /ˈnuːkʌmər/
any new participant in some activity
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
being perceived or observed
From this reading The Gander noticed that they were remarkably homely feet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
Peacock's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
praisingadjectiveUS /ˈpreɪzɪŋ/
full of or giving praise
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
remarkablyadverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading The Gander noticed that they were remarkably homely feet.
To recall to mind.
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
express in speech
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
swimmernounUS /ˈswɪmər/
a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
swimmersnounUS /ˈswɪmərz/
plural of “swimmer” — a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
express in words
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
create by training and teaching
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
trimverbUS /trɪm/
remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
webbedadjectiveUS /webd/
(of the feet of some animals) having the digits connected by a thin fold of skin
From this reading He did not have the trim, boat-shaped body that swimmers have, and then, his feet were not webbed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
at the time that
From this reading He thought he would remember this and speak of it to the Geese some time when they were praising the Peacock's train.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading They wished he were a swimmer, but of course they could tell with one look that he was not.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Geese were delighted with the newcomer, and hoped he would be quite friendly with them.
