used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
(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 If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
any thing at all
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
behavedverbUS /bɪˈheɪvd/
past form of “behave” — behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
billsnounUS /bɪlz/
plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
broodverbUS /bruːd/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
Clinton'snounUS /ˈklɪntənz/
possessive form of “clinton” — wife of President Clinton and later a woman member of the United States Senate (1947-)
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
lacking grace in movement or posture
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
ducksnounUS /dʌks/
plural of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
being one more than seven
From this reading There were eight of them, four of the eggs having produced nothing.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading There were eight of them, four of the eggs having produced nothing.
gaitnounUS /ɡeɪt/
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading There were eight of them, four of the eggs having produced nothing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
hennounUS /hen/
adult female chicken
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
and nothing more
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There were eight of them, four of the eggs having produced nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading There were eight of them, four of the eggs having produced nothing.
prudentadjectiveUS /ˈpruːdənt/
careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
Identical; not different.
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
unusual or striking
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
Specky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
TEMPTATIONnounUS /temˈteɪʃən/
something that seduces or has the quality to seduce
From this reading TEMPTATION.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were eight of them, four of the eggs having produced nothing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were eight of them, four of the eggs having produced nothing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Clinton’s brood of ducks at length made their appearance, just one month after he had put the eggs to the hen.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
waddling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
webbedadjectiveUS /webd/
(of the feet of some animals) having the digits connected by a thin fold of skin
From this reading She did not appear to think anything strange of their large bills, or their clumsy, webbed feet, or their awkward, waddling gait.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were eight of them, four of the eggs having produced nothing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading If madame Specky was a little astonished at the singular appearance which her children presented, she kept it all to herself, like a good, prudent mother, for she behaved toward them just the same as though they were ordinary chickens.
