used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
(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 In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading His sides had fallen in, and his haunch bones stood out.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
country-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
divisible by two
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading His sides had fallen in, and his haunch bones stood out.
faminenounUS /ˈfæmən/
an acute insufficiency
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
field-mouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
haunchnoun
the hip and buttock and upper thigh in human beings
From this reading His sides had fallen in, and his haunch bones stood out.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His sides had fallen in, and his haunch bones stood out.
huntedadjectiveUS /ˈhʌntəd/
reflecting the fear or terror of one who is hunted
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
immediately past
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
moorverbUS /mʊr/
secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
and nothing more
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His sides had fallen in, and his haunch bones stood out.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
pigeonnounUS /ˈpɪdʒən/
wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
rabbitsnounUS /ˈræbəts/
plural of “rabbit” — any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
Redpad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading His sides had fallen in, and his haunch bones stood out.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
SLAYERnounUS /ˈsleɪər/
someone who causes the death of a person or animal
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
stalkverbUS /stɔːk/
walk stiffly
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
starvedadjectiveUS /stɑːrvd/
suffering from lack of food
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading His sides had fallen in, and his haunch bones stood out.
successfullyadverbUS /səkˈsesfəli/
with success; in a successful manner
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
temptationnounUS /temˈteɪʃən/
something that seduces or has the quality to seduce
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE SHEEP SLAYER The temptation came late in February, for that is famine time in the country-side.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In three days Redpad had only picked up a starved rat and a sick pigeon, all skin and bone, and on the fourth day he caught nothing at all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
at the time that
From this reading The rabbits were alert, and it was difficult to stalk birds successfully when the leaves were off the trees.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading At last he went to the moor; but although he hunted there for a long while, he did not even see a field-mouse.
