used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
from appearances alone
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
availverbUS /əˈveɪl/
use to one's advantage
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
beenounUS /biː/
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
BEESnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
captivenounUS /ˈkæptɪv/
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
communitiesnounUS /kəˈmjuːnətiz/
plural of “community” — a group of people living in a particular local area
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
hivenounUS /haɪv/
a teeming multitude
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
honeynounUS /ˈhʌni/
a sweet yellow liquid produced by bees
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
by chance
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
piratesnounUS /ˈpaɪrəts/
plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
ragesnounUS /ˈreɪdʒɪz/
plural of “rage” — a feeling of intense anger
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
robbernounUS /ˈrɑːbər/
a thief who steals from someone by threatening violence
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
move stealthily
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
stealverbUS /stiːl/
take without the owner's consent
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
strugglesnounUS /ˈstrʌɡəlz/
plural of “struggle” — an energetic attempt to achieve something
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
hard to endure
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
look attentively
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE GUARD BEES If we watch for a short time at the city gates, we shall very likely see two bees apparently fighting desperately.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading The captive bee is really a robber, which has been caught whilst trying to slip into the hive to steal honey.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading It may be that the robber is from another hive, or perhaps is a wild bee, for there are communities of bees which are really like pirates.
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading If we look closely we may see that one of the bees has hold of the other by the wing, and is dragging it away from the door.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading To and fro the fight rages, and the bee which is held struggles fiercely, but without avail, for the other has her in a firm grip.
