used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
alarumnoun
an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
bead-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
BIRTHDAYnounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
BlackbirdsnounUS /ˈblækbərdz/
plural of “blackbird” — any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
canariesnounUS /kəˈneriz/
a group of mountainous islands in the Atlantic off the northwest coast of Africa forming Spanish provinces
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
canarynounUS /kəˈneri/
someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
CarolusnounUS /ˈkerələs/
king of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor; conqueror of the Lombards and Saxons (742-814)
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
chirruped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
Chérie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
Clarice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
hoppedverbUS /hɑːpt/
inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
peckingverbUS /ˈpekɪŋ/
-ing form of “peck” — hit lightly with a picking motion
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
perchnounUS /pɜːrtʃ/
support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
plumeverbUS /pluːm/
rip off; ask an unreasonable price
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
seedsnounUS /siːdz/
plural of “seed” — a small hard fruit
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/
have in common; held or experienced in common
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
singersnounUS /ˈsɪŋərz/
plural of “singer” — a person who sings
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
sleepernounUS /ˈsliːpər/
a rester who is sleeping
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
thrushesnounUS /ˈθrʌʃəz/
plural of “thrush” — candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
trillnounUS /trɪl/
a note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
precisely as stated
From this reading Those merry singers on swinging boughs outside in the clear morning sunshine made Carolus very restless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
at the time that
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN IT was like a musical alarum, when Carolus, a bright golden canary, began to trill one morning early to Mistress Clarice.
a Caucasian
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
which person or people
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
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 He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
wiresnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His companion, Chérie, who shared with him the pretty blue and white cage, thought the song was meant for her, and began to stretch her wings and plume herself as she listened.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He hopped from perch to perch, pecking up seeds faster and faster, and peering through the slender wires with his bead-like eyes, as if longing that the sleeper in the small white bed near the window would awake and talk to him.
but in spite of that
From this reading Blackbirds and thrushes called and chirruped from the garden below; but the canaries could not see them, as the nursery blind was not yet drawn up.
