used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
in addition
From this reading Pebbles also clamour to be cast into the stream.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The inspection of such an event cannot be hurried.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Pebbles also clamour to be cast into the stream.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspection of such an event cannot be hurried.
put or send forth
From this reading Pebbles also clamour to be cast into the stream.
clamourverbUS /ˈklæmər/
utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
From this reading Pebbles also clamour to be cast into the stream.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
dragon-fly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
erraticallyadverbUS /eˈrætɪkli/
in an erratic unpredictable manner
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The inspection of such an event cannot be hurried.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
plural of “find” — a productive insight
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
grassesnounUS /ˈɡræsəz/
plural of “grass” — narrow-leaved green herbage: grown as lawns; used as pasture for grazing animals; cut and dried as hay
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading The inspection of such an event cannot be hurried.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
of great significance or value
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading The inspection of such an event cannot be hurried.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
margenounUS /mɑːrdʒ/
a spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
a course of conduct
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
PebblesnounUS /ˈpebəlz/
plural of “pebble” — a small smooth rounded rock
From this reading Pebbles also clamour to be cast into the stream.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
rushesnounUS /ˈrʌʃəz/
plural of “rush” — the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
an educational institution
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
slipsnounUS /slɪps/
plural of “slip” — a socially awkward or tactless act
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
move an implement through
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Pebbles also clamour to be cast into the stream.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The inspection of such an event cannot be hurried.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
carry out
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
propel through the air
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
twigverbUS /twɪɡ/
branch out in a twiglike manner
From this reading Further, if one finds a twig on the path, or a leaf, there is nothing more natural than to throw these into the river and see how fast or how erratically they sail.
precisely as stated
From this reading The grasses and rushes by the marge may stir as a grey rat slips out to take to the water and swim low down and very fast on some strange and important journey.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
whirls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps a dragon-fly whirls above the surface of the water to hold one late from school.
