adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
benchnounUS /bentʃ/
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
breedingnounUS /ˈbriːdɪŋ/
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
castverbUS /kæst/
put or send forth
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
circlingverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
comparingnounUS /kəmˈperɪŋ/
the act of examining resemblances
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/
a state at a particular time
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
creaturesnounUS /ˈkriːtʃərz/
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
DOGnounUS /dɔːɡ/
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 THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
duckverbUS /dʌk/
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
ducksnounUS /dʌks/
plural of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
formsnounUS /fɔːrmz/
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
Hilary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
ironnounUS /ˈaɪərn/
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
kindsnounUS /kaɪndz/
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
knowingadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊɪŋ/
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
lotnounUS /lɑːt/
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading A worse-looking lot of ducks, take you all round.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
PERFECTadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
plumagenounUS /ˈpluːmədʒ/
the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
railingsnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋz/
plural of “railing” — a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
searchingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/
plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
spikedadjectiveUS /spaɪkt/
having a long sharp point
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
stopverbUS /stɑːp/
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading A worse-looking lot of ducks, take you all round.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
watersnounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
well-bredadjective
of good upbringing
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Between the bench where he was sitting and the spiked iron railings people passed continually--men, women, children of all kinds.
wormsnounUS /wɜːrmz/
plural of “worm” — any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
From this reading THE PERFECT DOG Hilary sat long in the sun, watching the pale bright waters and many well-bred ducks circling about the shrubs, searching with their round, bright eyes for worms.
worse-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A worse-looking lot of ducks, take you all round.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Every now and then a duck would stop and cast her knowing glance at these creatures, as though comparing the condition of their forms and plumage with her own.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'If I had had the breeding of you,' she seemed to say, 'I could have made a better fist of it than that.
