used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
anew
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
(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 Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
dewnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Minnie thought the night would never end.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
hootnounUS /huːt/
a loud raucous cry (as of an owl)
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MINNIE IN PRISON.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
MINNIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MINNIE IN PRISON.
the light of the Moon
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Minnie thought the night would never end.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Minnie thought the night would never end.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
on one occasion
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
patternounUS /ˈpætər/
plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading MINNIE IN PRISON.
prowlingverbUS /ˈpraʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “prowl” — move about in or as if in a predatory manner
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
slantverbUS /slænt/
lie obliquely
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
not in physical motion
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Minnie thought the night would never end.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Minnie thought the night would never end.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes there would be a quick cry, or a patter of light little feet, or the dull hoot of the owl; and then all was still again, and Minnie gazed once more to see how far the stars had moved.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading She heard the night wind creep among the leaves; and her old friend the owl, and other wild creatures that hide by day, she heard prowling about in the dark.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading She watched the stars that moved so slowly overhead; she watched the moonlight slant into the wood, and the pale flowers fill with dew.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Minnie thought the night would never end.
