used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
(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 “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
birdieverbUS /ˈbɜːrdi/
shoot in one stroke under par
From this reading “What is the matter, birdie, old fellow?” said Charles.
a youthful male person
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
departingverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “depart” — move away from a place into another direction
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
echoverbUS /ˈekoʊ/
to say again or imitate
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
divisible by two
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
a boy or man
From this reading “What is the matter, birdie, old fellow?” said Charles.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
handyadjectiveUS /ˈhændi/
easy to reach
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is the matter, birdie, old fellow?” said Charles.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
immediately past
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “What is the matter, birdie, old fellow?” said Charles.
merlenounUS /mɜːrl/
common black European thrush
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
MINERVA'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
nailverbUS /neɪl/
attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
a brief written record
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
oakenadjective
consisting of or made of wood of the oak tree
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “What is the matter, birdie, old fellow?” said Charles.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
by chance
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
pipedverbUS /paɪpt/
past form of “pipe” — utter a shrill cry
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
plaintiveadjectiveUS /ˈpleɪntɪv/
expressing sorrow
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
pleadingnounUS /ˈpliːdɪŋ/
(law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
with speed
From this reading “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “What is the matter, birdie, old fellow?” said Charles.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
sorrowfuladjectiveUS /ˈsɑːroʊfəl/
experiencing or marked by or expressing sorrow especially that associated with irreparable loss
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
up to a particular time
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is the matter, birdie, old fellow?” said Charles.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
which person or people
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
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 Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The merle looked at him with his bright eyes, in which there seemed to the boy to be a sorrowful pleading expression.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
Wynkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even then perhaps he would not have stirred, had it not been for the merle, who suddenly piped a plaintive note or two in his cage, which Wynkin had hung upon a handy nail near the window.
Wynkin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MINERVA’S NOSE Charles stood listening to Wynkin’s departing footsteps down the oaken staircase till the last echo of them died out.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Ah,” cried Charles, turning quickly to the bird, “I forgot all about you.”
