used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
bird-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading Our Mary hopped cheerfully down the stairs.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Our Mary hopped cheerfully down the stairs.
DOWNSTAIRSadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
divisible by two
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
moving swiftly
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
set up or found
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
fountainnounUS /ˈfaʊntən/
a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
a young female
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
the act of departing
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
shoot down, of birds
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
hoppedverbUS /hɑːpt/
inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly
From this reading Our Mary hopped cheerfully down the stairs.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
and nothing more
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
lamenounUS /leɪm/
someone who doesn't understand what is going on
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Our Mary hopped cheerfully down the stairs.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
never-stopping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
not any; not one
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
soft-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Our Mary hopped cheerfully down the stairs.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
a special situation
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Her parents gave her the bird-room to amuse her, so my mother had told me, for she could not go much on the street.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
twittering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
precisely as stated
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no gravel on this floor, just a soft-looking thing the color of grass, that I found out afterward was called a carpet.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
at the time that
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A TRIP DOWNSTAIRS Oh, what a different air the hall had—very quiet and peaceful, no twittering of birds and never-stopping flying and fluttering, and chattering and singing, and with the murmur of the fountain going on, even in our sleep!
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She was quite a young girl, and had had a fall when a baby, that had made her very lame.
