used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
Arden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
AvonnounUS /ˈeɪvɑːn/
a river in southwestern England rising in Gloucestershire and flowing through Bristol to empty into the estuary of the Severn
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
axnounUS /æks/
an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
bellingnounUS /ˈbelɪŋ/
a noisy mock serenade (made by banging pans and kettles) to a newly married couple
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
blackbirdnounUS /ˈblækbərd/
any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
bubblesnounUS /ˈbʌbəlz/
plural of “bubble” — a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
cart-wheels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
deep-tongued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
duckverbUS /dʌk/
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
fishermannounUS /ˈfɪʃərmæn/
someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
made afraid
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
Fulbroke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
heronnounUS /ˈherən/
Greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century)
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
houndsnounUS /haʊndz/
plural of “hound” — any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
kingfishernounUS /ˈkɪŋfɪʃər/
nonpasserine large-headed bird with a short tail and long sharp bill; usually crested and bright-colored; feed mostly on fish
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
ladsnounUS /lædz/
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
staying power
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
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 Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
on one occasion
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
pattering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
plumpedverbUS /plʌmpt/
past form of “plump” — drop sharply
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
river-rat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
ruttled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
sedgenounUS /sedʒ/
grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
shrillyadverb
in a shrill voice
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
in or at or to some place
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/
past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
splashverbUS /splæʃ/
cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
stonyadjectiveUS /ˈstoʊni/
abounding in rocks or stones
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
trailedverbUS /treɪld/
past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind
From this reading Now and then a heron, rising from the river, trailed its long legs across the sky, or a kingfisher sparkled in his own splash.
trudgedverbUS /trʌdʒd/
past form of “trudge” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
up-stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
WARWICKnounUS /ˈwɔːrwɪk/
English statesman; during the War of the Roses he fought first for the house of York and secured the throne for Edward IV and then changed sides to fight for the house of Lancaster and secured the throne for Henry VI (1428-1471)
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN THE WARWICK ROAD The land was full of morning sounds as the lads trudged along the Warwick road together.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
willowsnounUS /ˈwɪloʊz/
plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading And then a river-rat plumped into the stream beneath the willows, and left a long string of bubbles behind him.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once a lonely fisherman down by the Avon started a wild duck from the sedge, and away it went pattering up-stream with frightened wings and red feet running along the water.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading An ax rang somewhere deep in the woods of Arden; cart-wheels ruttled on the stony road; a blackbird whistled shrilly in the hedge, and they heard the deep-tongued belling of hounds far off in Fulbroke park.
