used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
aidedadjectiveUS /ˈeɪdəd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
BarnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
broodverbUS /bruːd/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
Catbirds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
guidedadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdəd/
subject to guidance or control especially after launching
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
hayloftnounUS /ˈheɪlɔːft/
a loft in a barn where hay is stored
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
housekeepingnounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpɪŋ/
the work of cleaning and running a house
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
immediately past
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
moultnoun
periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
OrchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
persistedverbUS /pərˈsɪstɪd/
past form of “persist” — continue to exist
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
RapnounUS /ræp/
a reproach for some lapse or misdeed
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
Red-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
RobinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
SparrownounUS /ˈsperoʊ/
any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
SwallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
Thrashers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
ThrushesnounUS /ˈθrʌʃəz/
plural of “thrush” — candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
Vireonoun
any of various small insectivorous American birds chiefly olive-grey in color
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON THE SHORE By the first of August, bird housekeeping was over at Orchard Farm.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The Barn Swallow had guided her last brood through the hayloft window, without having it closed upon her as she had feared.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading The Thrashers, and Catbirds too, were quite silent and invisible; of all the voices that had made the last three months so musical, the Red-eyed Vireo and the Song Sparrow alone persisted in singing, aided by a few Wood Thrushes.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The friendly Robins had left the Orchard and lawn, to moult in the quiet of the woods.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Rap says that August is a poor month for birds about here," said Nat to his uncle; "do you think there will be more of them down at the shore?"
