Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

(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 All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

plural of “canal” — (astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

plural of “cornfield” — a field planted with corn

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

flesh of a young domestic duck

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

plural of “duckling” — flesh of a young domestic duck

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

a native or inhabitant of Egypt

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

having or deserving or conferring glory

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

emerge from the eggs

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

grass mowed and cured for use as fodder

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

and nothing more

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

plural of “lake” — a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

staying power

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

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 THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

plural of “oat” — annual grass of Europe and North Africa; grains used as food and fodder (referred to primarily in the plural: “oats”)

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Yes, it was right glorious out in the country.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

not often

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

a large number or amount

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

be standing; be upright

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

large mostly Old World wading birds typically having white-and-black plumage

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

the rays of the sun

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

in or at that place or location

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading All around the fields and meadows were great forests, and in the midst of these forests lay deep lakes.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

displeasing to the senses

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

in a vertical position; not sloping

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

in the company of; together with

From this reading In the midst of the sunshine there lay an old farm, with deep canals about it, and from the wall down to the water grew great burdocks, so high that little children could stand upright under the loftiest of them.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading It was just as wild there as in the deepest wood, and here sat a Duck upon her nest; she had to hatch her ducklings; but she was almost tired out before the little ones came and then she so seldom had visitors.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading THE UGLY DUCKLING It was so glorious out in the country; it was summer; the cornfields were yellow, the oats were green, the hay had been put up in stacks in the green meadows, and the stork went about on his long red legs, and chattered Egyptian, for this was the language he had learned from his good mother.

an affirmative

From this reading Yes, it was right glorious out in the country.