used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading Also, he regarded the coach-house bed as his own, and the other puppies as youngsters only admitted to that place by his courtesy.
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
in addition
From this reading Also, he regarded the coach-house bed as his own, and the other puppies as youngsters only admitted to that place by his courtesy.
a quantity of money
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Also, he regarded the coach-house bed as his own, and the other puppies as youngsters only admitted to that place by his courtesy.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
bereftadjectiveUS /bərˈeft/
unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
next to; at the side of
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
coach-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
courtesynounUS /ˈkɜːrtəsi/
a courteous or respectful or considerate act
From this reading Also, he regarded the coach-house bed as his own, and the other puppies as youngsters only admitted to that place by his courtesy.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
DOWNSnounUS /daʊnz/
plural of “down” — soft fine feathers
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
FinnnounUS /fɪn/
a native or inhabitant of Finland
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
foster-mothernoun
a woman who is a foster parent and raises another's child
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
set up or found
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
indulgingnounUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒɪŋ/
the act of indulging or gratifying a desire
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
immediately past
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
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 His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
maternaladjectiveUS /məˈtɜːrnəl/
characteristic of a mother
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
night'snounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
and nothing more
From this reading Also, he regarded the coach-house bed as his own, and the other puppies as youngsters only admitted to that place by his courtesy.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Also, he regarded the coach-house bed as his own, and the other puppies as youngsters only admitted to that place by his courtesy.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
puppiesnounUS /ˈpʌpiz/
plural of “puppy” — a young dog
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading Also, he regarded the coach-house bed as his own, and the other puppies as youngsters only admitted to that place by his courtesy.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/
have in common; held or experienced in common
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
swaggerverbUS /ˈswæɡər/
to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had already adopted the air of a dog accustomed to go his own way and to sleep alone.
at the time that
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
whimpered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They whimpered a little after the last night meal, when they found themselves bereft of maternal attention, and this gave Finn an opportunity for indulging in a certain amount of swagger on the strength of his previous night's experience.
which person or people
From this reading His great bed in the coach-house, which was twelve feet long by six feet broad, was shared the next night by the other three puppies, who had seen the last of their foster-mother that morning.
youngstersnounUS /ˈjʌŋstərz/
plural of “youngster” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Also, he regarded the coach-house bed as his own, and the other puppies as youngsters only admitted to that place by his courtesy.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading YOUTH BESIDE THE DOWNS Finn did not have more than one solitary night for the present.
