used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
bearsnounUS /berz/
plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
for the reason that
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
a youthful male person
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I call them nice bears for they were.
clawsnounUS /klɔːz/
plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
a social unit living together
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
far-offadjective
very far away in space or time
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I call them nice bears for they were.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I call them nice bears for they were.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mind, I’m not saying for sure, but maybe.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
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 Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
engage in
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
by chance
From this reading Mind, I’m not saying for sure, but maybe.
the force of workers available
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Mind, I’m not saying for sure, but maybe.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
not any; not one
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mind, I’m not saying for sure, but maybe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
on one occasion
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Mind, I’m not saying for sure, but maybe.
scratchedverbUS /skrætʃt/
past form of “scratch” — cause friction
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
express a supposition
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Mind, I’m not saying for sure, but maybe.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I call them nice bears for they were.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I call them nice bears for they were.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
the upper part of anything
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I suppose, though, if a boy went on top of the mountain, and began throwing stones or sticks at the nice bears, they might have run out and scratched him to make him go away.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I call them nice bears for they were.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Of course they had long claws, and sharp teeth, but they never bit any one, or scratched any one, because there were no boys or girls, or men or women, living in that part of the woods.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading In the woods, on top of a mountain, in a far-off country there once lived a family of nice bears.
