used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
ANTnounUS /ænt/
social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
bird-catcher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading The ant, climbing on to it, floated in safety to the bank.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)
From this reading The ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot.
DOVEnounUS /dʌv/
any of numerous small pigeons
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The ant, climbing on to it, floated in safety to the bank.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The ant, climbing on to it, floated in safety to the bank.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
lime-twigs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
overhangingverbUS /ˈoʊvərhæŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
perceivingverbUS /pərˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “perceive” — to become aware of through the senses
From this reading The ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot.
pluckedadjectiveUS /plʌkt/
of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
quenchverbUS /kwentʃ/
satisfy
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
move hurridly
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading The ant, climbing on to it, floated in safety to the bank.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
for a short time
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
stungadjectiveUS /stʌŋ/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading The ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
thirstnounUS /θɜːrst/
a physiological need to drink
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading A dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THE DOVE AND THE ANT An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being drowned.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Shortly afterward a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the dove, which sat in the branches.
