used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Billie grumbled a little bit about him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Billie grumbled a little bit about him.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Billie grumbled a little bit about him.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
CHUMMYadjectiveUS /ˈtʃʌmi/
(used colloquially) having the relationship of friends or pals
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
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 In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/
past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading Billie grumbled a little bit about him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
immediately past
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Billie grumbled a little bit about him.
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 lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
information about recent and important events
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
many times at short intervals
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
out-of-doorsnoun
where the air is unconfined
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
cut with a saw
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
sparrownounUS /ˈsperoʊ/
any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
thawnounUS /θɔː/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I did not go out-of-doors very often, and was quite glad to get the outside news from my sparrow friend.
precisely as stated
From this reading ANOTHER CALL FROM CHUMMY After this first day of our meeting, Chummy called on me very often.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The lovely thaw did not last long, and we had some more very cold weather.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In fact, he would fly in whenever he saw the window open, for he knew Billie was an honest dog and would not chase him.
