used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
(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 "CONSCIENCE MAKES COWARDS OF US ALL."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
any thing at all
From this reading But Bill was no coward when there was anything to be gained.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But Bill was no coward when there was anything to be gained.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Bill was no coward when there was anything to be gained.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading "CONSCIENCE MAKES COWARDS OF US ALL."
cowardnounUS /ˈkaʊərd/
a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading But Bill was no coward when there was anything to be gained.
COWARDSnounUS /ˈkaʊərdz/
plural of “coward” — a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading "CONSCIENCE MAKES COWARDS OF US ALL."
disconcertedadjective
having self-possession upset; thrown into confusion
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
the organ of sight
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
furthestadverbUS /ˈfɜːrθəst/
to the greatest degree or extent or most advanced stage (“furthest” is used more often than “farthest” in this abstract sense)
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading But Bill was no coward when there was anything to be gained.
goosenounUS /ɡuːs/
web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the goose had no intention of quitting her position.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But the goose had no intention of quitting her position.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading But the goose had no intention of quitting her position.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
conformity or harmony
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading "CONSCIENCE MAKES COWARDS OF US ALL."
nestsnounUS /nests/
plural of “nest” — a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
not any; not one
From this reading But Bill was no coward when there was anything to be gained.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "CONSCIENCE MAKES COWARDS OF US ALL."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
peepingverbUS /ˈpiːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading But the goose had no intention of quitting her position.
quittingverbUS /ˈkwɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “quit” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading But the goose had no intention of quitting her position.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
get rid of
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But Bill was no coward when there was anything to be gained.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
in the direction of
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "CONSCIENCE MAKES COWARDS OF US ALL."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON first peeping into the shed, Bill was disconcerted to see a goose on one of the nests.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
at the time that
From this reading But Bill was no coward when there was anything to be gained.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He went cautiously forward towards the furthest boxes, keeping an eye on the sitting bird the while, and ready to beat a retreat on the first alarm.
