used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
(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 They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
beenounUS /biː/
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
butterfliesnounUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪz/
plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
rid of obstructions
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
drolladjectiveUS /droʊl/
comical in an odd or whimsical manner
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
happiestadjectiveUS /ˈhæpiəst/
superlative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
hide-and-seeknoun
a game in which a child covers his eyes while the other players hide then tries to find them
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
honeynounUS /ˈhʌni/
a sweet yellow liquid produced by bees
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
meadowsnounUS /ˈmedoʊz/
plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
MINNIE'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MINNIE'S WINGS.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
nimbleadjectiveUS /ˈnɪmbəl/
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
obligeverbUS /əˈblaɪdʒ/
force somebody to do something
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
on one occasion
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
practisedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktɪst/
skillful after much practice
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
sportsnounUS /spɔːrts/
plural of “sport” — an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
migratory
From this reading Now came the most beautiful and happiest part of Minnie's wandering life.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
in or to any place at all
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading MINNIE'S WINGS.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They taught her all the pretty sports which they had practised among themselves; once more she flew across the meadows with the birds, fed on the fresh, clear honey of the bee, and played hide-and-seek with butterflies.
withaladverb
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading So nimble was she, and ready for sport, and so droll, and withal so gentle and ready to oblige, that she made friends on every side.
you'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wherever she went you'd be sure to find a flock of butterflies, or bees, or birds, about her.
