used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "He has wings and wants to use them."
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
benefactor'snounUS /ˈbenəfæktərz/
possessive form of “benefactor” — a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help)
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
catsnounUS /kæts/
plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
chickweednoun
any of various plants of the genus Stellaria
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
intentionally conceived
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
opinion or judgment
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
featheredadjectiveUS /ˈfeðərd/
adorned with feathers or plumes
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "He has wings and wants to use them."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
hawksnounUS /hɔːks/
plural of “hawk” — diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
a polite name for any woman
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
held up in the air
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
seednounUS /siːd/
a small hard fruit
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
not in physical motion
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "He has wings and wants to use them."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "He has wings and wants to use them."
the act of using
From this reading "He has wings and wants to use them."
violetnounUS /ˈvaɪəlɪt/
any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading "He has wings and wants to use them."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And the little lady lifted a pair of violet eyes, that were still sparkling with tears, to her benefactor's face.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading "He has wings and wants to use them."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "No, he hadn't," said Dan, conscious of a sudden sympathy with his feathered prisoner.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "But he couldn't find seed or chickweed for himself, and the cats and hawks would have had him before morning.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Oh, I'm so glad to get him back safe I don't know how to thank you for catching him for me!"
