used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading You can’t have another WORM!” said a strange voice.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
(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 Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading COPPERTOP AND THE OLD MOTHER-BIRD.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading You can’t have another WORM!” said a strange voice.
beaknounUS /biːk/
beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
beaksnounUS /biːks/
plural of “beak” — beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No! you can’t.
chicksnounUS /tʃɪks/
plural of “chick” — young bird especially of domestic fowl
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
claynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
COPPERTOP
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COPPERTOP AND THE OLD MOTHER-BIRD.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
opinion or judgment
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
set up or found
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
GrudgenounUS /ɡrʌdʒ/
a resentment strong enough to justify retaliation
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You can’t have another WORM!” said a strange voice.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
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 But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
for more time
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
used to form the superlative
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
MOTHER-BIRD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading COPPERTOP AND THE OLD MOTHER-BIRD.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
nestful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
not any; not one
From this reading “No! you can’t.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading COPPERTOP AND THE OLD MOTHER-BIRD.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
perchedverbUS /pɜːrtʃt/
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading You can’t have another WORM!” said a strange voice.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading You can’t have another WORM!” said a strange voice.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
confined on all sides
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading COPPERTOP AND THE OLD MOTHER-BIRD.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
displeasing to the senses
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
precisely as stated
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading You can’t have another WORM!” said a strange voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Looking up, or down--Coppertop wasn’t quite sure which--she found to her amazement that she was no longer hanging by one leg to the palm tree, but was sitting in a large nest, made of sticks and clay, and surrounded by a nestful of very ugly chicks, all beaks and eyes!
in the company of; together with
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
WORMnounUS /wɜːrm/
any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
From this reading You can’t have another WORM!” said a strange voice.
wrigglingadjective
moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
From this reading But what surprised her most was the hideous old Mother-bird--very like Mrs. Grudge--perched above them with a long, wriggling worm in her beak.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “No! you can’t.
