used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
alighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
(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 He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Grimalkin was astonished.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
Ballymore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
beadyadjectiveUS /ˈbiːdi/
small and round and shiny like a shiny bead or button
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
calendarnounUS /ˈkæləndər/
a system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
put or send forth
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
chaffinches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
crab-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
crampedadjectiveUS /kræmpt/
constricted in size
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
the act of consuming food
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
Grimalkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
Grimalkin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
and nothing more
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
miniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
neighbouringverbUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
-ing form of “neighbour” — live or be located as a neighbor
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
nestsnounUS /nests/
plural of “nest” — a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
on one occasion
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
RectorynounUS /ˈrektəri/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
snailnounUS /sneɪl/
freshwater or marine or terrestrial gastropod mollusk usually having an external enclosing spiral shell
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
spiedverbUS /spaɪd/
inflected form of “spy” — catch sight of
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
the season of growth
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
thunderboltnounUS /ˈθʌndərbɔːlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
twinklingnounUS /ˈtwɪŋkəlɪŋ/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The rat was sitting up eating a snail, and every now and then it cast a beady glance around; but Grimalkin slid through the grass like a snake, and it did not see him.
having passed out of existence
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
at the time that
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
a Caucasian
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
whitethornnoun
thorny Eurasian shrub of small tree having dense clusters of white to scarlet flowers followed by deep red berries; established as an escape in eastern North America
From this reading He was looking for chaffinches' nests in the big whitethorn hedge at the back of Ballymore Rectory, when he suddenly spied a rat.
which person or people
From this reading He had cramped his limbs together for a spring when all at once something fell like a miniature thunderbolt from a neighbouring crab-tree, and alighted just six inches behind the rat, who dropped his supper and vanished in a twinkling.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
ZOE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZOE The day on which the first swallow came was marked with white in Grimalkin's calendar.
