used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
anew
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
Beelzebubnoun
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
boundsnounUS /baʊndz/
the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
circledverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəld/
past form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
curvedadjectiveUS /kɜːrvd/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
eavesnounUS /iːvz/
the overhang at the lower edge of a roof
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
epitomenounUS /ɪˈpɪtəmi/
a standard or typical example
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
fastnessnounUS /ˈfæstnəs/
a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
flattenedadjectiveUS /ˈflætənd/
having been flattened
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
staying power
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
litheadjectiveUS /laɪð/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
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 Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
roused to anger
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
moonlitadjectiveUS /ˈmuːnlɪt/
lighted by moonlight
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
not in physical motion
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
patternounUS /ˈpætər/
plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
move hurridly
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
scamperingverbUS /ˈskæmpərɪŋ/
-ing form of “scamper” — to move about or proceed hurriedly
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
scrambledadjectiveUS /ˈskræmbəld/
thrown together in a disorderly fashion
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
without speaking
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
silver-and-bronze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
sinuouslyadverb
in a sinuous manner
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
stubnounUS /stʌb/
a short piece remaining on a trunk or stem where a branch is lost
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly he sprang away in long, lithe bounds; a mad patter of feet on the cabin porch and he scrambled to his fastness in the eaves.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Slowly the great bird circled to the limb again, where he sat motionless in the summer night, a silver-and-bronze epitome of melancholy patience.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
talonsnounUS /ˈtælənz/
plural of “talon” — a sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
push forcefully
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Beelzebub, scampering sinuously from clump to clump of the long grass, flattened himself to a shadow as the owl launched silently from the limb, legs pointing downward and curved talons rigid.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
twitchingnounUS /ˈtwɪtʃɪŋ/
a sudden muscle spasm; especially one caused by a nervous condition
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
in or at the place that
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Wide, shadowy wings darkened the moonlit haze where Beelzebub crouched, tail twitching, and ears laid back.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a soft rush of wings an owl dropped from the interior blackness of the midnight forest and settled on a stub thrust from a dead tree at the edge of the clearing.
