adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
armedadjectiveUS /ɑːrmd/
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Between the boys and the squirrels there existed an armed neutrality.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
beech-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
beechnuts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between the boys and the squirrels there existed an armed neutrality.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Between the boys and the squirrels there existed an armed neutrality.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
cosynounUS /ˈkoʊzi/
a padded cloth covering to keep a teapot warm
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/
past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading Between the boys and the squirrels there existed an armed neutrality.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
frontnounUS /frʌnt/
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
furnounUS /fɜːr/
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
holenounUS /hoʊl/
an opening into or through something
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
hollowedverbUS /ˈhɑːloʊd/
past form of “hollow” — remove the inner part or the core of
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
honornounUS /ˈɑːnər/
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
impudentadjective
marked by casual disrespect
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
InsideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
lednounUS /led/
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
limitsnounUS /ˈlɪməts/
plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
maplesnounUS /ˈmeɪpəlz/
plural of “maple” — wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
MASTERnounUS /ˈmæstər/
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
matternounUS /ˈmætər/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
midstnounUS /mɪdst/
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
mossnounUS /mɔːs/
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
neutralitynounUS /nuːˈtræləti/
nonparticipation in a dispute or war
From this reading Between the boys and the squirrels there existed an armed neutrality.
NEWadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
profanitynounUS /proʊˈfænəti/
vulgar or irreverent speech or action
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
provisionsnounUS /prəˈvɪʒənz/
a stock or supply of foods
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
putverbUS /pʊt/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
reasonableadjectiveUS /ˈriːzənəbəl/
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
rednounUS /red/
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
respectableadjectiveUS /rɪˈspektəbəl/
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
RightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
roomynounUS /ˈruːmi/
an associate who shares a room with you
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
rottedadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːtɪd/
damaged by decay; hence unsound and useless
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
schoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
snowballsnounUS /ˈsnoʊbɔːlz/
plural of “snowball” — plant having heads of fragrant white trumpet-shaped flowers; grows in sandy arid regions
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
squirrelsnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəlz/
plural of “squirrel” — a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
storedverbUS /stɔːrd/
past form of “store” — keep or lay aside for future use
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Between the boys and the squirrels there existed an armed neutrality.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
thoroughlyadverbUS /ˈθɜːroʊli/
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
topnounUS /tɑːp/
the upper part of anything
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
treenounUS /triː/
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
understoodadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Inside this hole two very respectable but thoroughly impudent red squirrels had made their nest.
warnounUS /wɔːr/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
winter'snounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The hole led into the dead heart of the tree, which had been hollowed out with pains so as to make a roomy, cosy home, which the squirrels had lined with fur and moss, and which was well stored with beechnuts from the tree, their winter's provisions.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE NEW MASTER Right in front of the school door, and some little distance from it, in the midst of a clump of maples, stood an old beech-tree with a dead top, and half-way down where a limb had once been and had rotted off, a hole.
worseadjectiveUS /wɜːrs/
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading It was understood among the boys that nothing worse than snowballs was to be used in their war with the squirrels, while with the squirrels it was a matter of honor that they should put reasonable limits to their profanity.
