Chapter IX · Chapter 9

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

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

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

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

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

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

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

third-person singular of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But what of that?

showing who or what does the action

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

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

From this reading The Hummingbird, is smaller still, and the Winter Wren measures no more, only he is chunkier.

examine and note the similarities or differences of

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

seemingly without interruption

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

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

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

opinion or judgment

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

a boy or man

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

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

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

a formal association of people with similar interests

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

tiny American bird having brilliant iridescent plumage and long slender bills; wings are specialized for vibrating flight

From this reading The Hummingbird, is smaller still, and the Winter Wren measures no more, only he is chunkier.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

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

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

small birds resembling warblers but having some of the habits of titmice

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

large or big relative to something else

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

the property of having a relatively small size

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

plural of “measure” — any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading The Hummingbird, is smaller still, and the Winter Wren measures no more, only he is chunkier.

a person who is markedly small

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The Hummingbird, is smaller still, and the Winter Wren measures no more, only he is chunkier.

not any; not one

From this reading The Hummingbird, is smaller still, and the Winter Wren measures no more, only he is chunkier.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

and nothing more

From this reading The Hummingbird, is smaller still, and the Winter Wren measures no more, only he is chunkier.

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

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

-ing form of “peep” — look furtively

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

a quick and penetrating intelligence

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

small or little relative to something else

From this reading The Hummingbird, is smaller still, and the Winter Wren measures no more, only he is chunkier.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

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

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

not in physical motion

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

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

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

very small

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

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

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

plural of “trapper” — someone who sets traps for animals (usually to obtain their furs)

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

under normal conditions

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

often used as intensifiers

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

precisely as stated

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But what of that?

which person or people

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.

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

From this reading The Hummingbird, is smaller still, and the Winter Wren measures no more, only he is chunkier.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He is so small that there are very few North American birds to compare with him in littleness.

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

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

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

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

English architect who designed more than fifty London churches (1632-1723)

From this reading The Hummingbird, is smaller still, and the Winter Wren measures no more, only he is chunkier.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading He is usually intent upon his work, continually hopping and peeping among little branches and twigs, and thinks it would be time wasted if he stayed still long enough to give you a chance to look at him.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading PEEPERS AND CREEPERS THE GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET "We have been looking at some of the larger song birds; now try the sharpness of your eyes by finding a tiny little fellow--a veritable midget, who belongs to the guild of Tree Trappers.