Chapter VI

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

in addition

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

deprive somebody of something by deceit

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

plural of “fill” — a quantity sufficient to satisfy

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

superlative of “harsh” — unpleasantly stern

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

third-person singular of “hear” — perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

-ing form of “imitate” — reproduce someone's behavior or looks

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

plural of “keep” — the financial means whereby one lives

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

hear with intention

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

showing your contempt by derision

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

characterized by or capable of producing music

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

and nothing more

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

to say, state, or perform again

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

not in physical motion

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice

From this reading Not only does it repeat musical tones, but also the harshest tones it hears, making of it all a strange medley.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It is not quiet in the day-time, but then shows its powers in a different way.

at the time that

From this reading By night, when other birds are apt to be still, it keeps to its sweet native song, but by day takes delight in its strange faculty of imitation.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Now it takes up the song of one bird, now of another, and fills the air with its fine mockery.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading It is this that gives it the name of mocking bird, for it has a wonderful power of taking up the songs of other birds, imitating them so exactly as to cheat the ears of all that listen.