used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
(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 While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading “O no,” said Royal; “they are altogether mine; it is my coop.”
pleasantly occupied
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “O no,” said Royal; “they are altogether mine; it is my coop.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She wanted some herself,--at least some of the chickens.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
terminate
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
coopnounUS /kuːp/
a farm building for housing poultry
From this reading “O no,” said Royal; “they are altogether mine; it is my coop.”
tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
crumbsnounUS /krʌmz/
plural of “crumb” — a very small quantity of something
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
provide as food
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
hennounUS /hen/
adult female chicken
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She wanted some herself,--at least some of the chickens.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “O no,” said Royal; “they are altogether mine; it is my coop.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “O no,” said Royal; “they are altogether mine; it is my coop.”
Joanna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading She wanted some herself,--at least some of the chickens.
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 She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “O no,” said Royal; “they are altogether mine; it is my coop.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “O no,” said Royal; “they are altogether mine; it is my coop.”
not any; not one
From this reading “O no,” said Royal; “they are altogether mine; it is my coop.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading “O no,” said Royal; “they are altogether mine; it is my coop.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
RoyaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
spacesnounUS /ˈspeɪsəz/
plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
express in speech
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading She wanted some herself,--at least some of the chickens.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She accordingly gave her some small pieces of bread, which Lucy carried back; and she and Royal amused themselves for a long time, by throwing crumbs in through the spaces between the sticks.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While they were talking about them, Royal happened to speak of them as _his_ hen and chickens, and Lucy said that she thought he ought not to have them all.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lucy went to get some corn, but Joanna told her that crumbs of bread would be better, and then the old hen could break them up into small pieces, and feed her chickens with them.
