used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
bangverbUS /bæŋ/
strike violently
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Scratch poor Peter, do."
Eustace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
the act of retaining something
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
hookverbUS /hʊk/
fasten with a hook
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Poor old Peter!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
parrotnounUS /ˈperət/
usually brightly colored zygodactyl tropical birds with short hooked beaks and the ability to mimic sounds
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading "Poor old Peter!
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "Poor old Peter!
compacted by ironing
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
ScratchverbUS /skrætʃ/
cause friction
From this reading Scratch poor Peter, do."
scratchingnounUS /ˈskrætʃɪŋ/
a harsh noise made by scraping
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
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 Eustace ran to the bell and pressed it hard; then across to the window, which he closed with a bang.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He looked up at the picture rail, and there was the hand holding on to a hook with three fingers, and slowly scratching the head of the parrot with the fourth.
wringverbUS /rɪŋ/
twist and press out of shape
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I'm more likely to wring your neck if I get hold of you."
