adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading When the lassie lay down across the crack he stopped digging, in consternation.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading In another instant he was digging frantically in the soft earth under the door.
attacknounUS /əˈtæk/
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
bairn's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was no time to be lost, for the drums began to beat the march.
beatverbUS /biːt/
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading There was no time to be lost, for the drums began to beat the march.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading There was no time to be lost, for the drums began to beat the march.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
consternationnounUS /ˌkɑːnstərˈneɪʃən/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading When the lassie lay down across the crack he stopped digging, in consternation.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading When the lassie lay down across the crack he stopped digging, in consternation.
desperateadjectiveUS /ˈdesprɪt/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading In another instant he was digging frantically in the soft earth under the door.
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 His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In another instant he was digging frantically in the soft earth under the door.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When the lassie lay down across the crack he stopped digging, in consternation.
drumsnounUS /drʌmz/
plural of “drum” — a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading There was no time to be lost, for the drums began to beat the march.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading In another instant he was digging frantically in the soft earth under the door.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
franticallyadverbUS /ˈfræntəkəli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading In another instant he was digging frantically in the soft earth under the door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In another instant he was digging frantically in the soft earth under the door.
insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading In another instant he was digging frantically in the soft earth under the door.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
knewverbUS /nuː/
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 Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
lassienounUS /ˈlæsi/
a girl or young woman who is unmarried
From this reading When the lassie lay down across the crack he stopped digging, in consternation.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When the lassie lay down across the crack he stopped digging, in consternation.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading There was no time to be lost, for the drums began to beat the march.
marchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/
march in a procession
From this reading There was no time to be lost, for the drums began to beat the march.
matternounUS /ˈmætər/
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
objectnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekt/
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
poultry-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
properadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːpər/
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
shutverbUS /ʃʌt/
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
smellnounUS /smel/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading In another instant he was digging frantically in the soft earth under the door.
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading When the lassie lay down across the crack he stopped digging, in consternation.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no time to be lost, for the drums began to beat the march.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There was no time to be lost, for the drums began to beat the march.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was no time to be lost, for the drums began to beat the march.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading His sense of smell told him what it was that shut out the strip of light; and a bairn's soft body is not a proper object of attack for a little dog, no matter how desperate the emergency.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading In another instant he was digging frantically in the soft earth under the door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Before he knew what had happened he was inside the poultry-house.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the lassie lay down across the crack he stopped digging, in consternation.
