used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
in addition
From this reading And there was also a queer, wild-animal smell, which Nero liked very much.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
have
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
cagesnounUS /ˈkeɪdʒɪz/
plural of “cage” — an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
camelsnounUS /ˈkæməlz/
plural of “camel” — cud-chewing mammal used as a draft or saddle animal in desert regions
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
circusnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəs/
a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
cooped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
elephantsnounUS /ˈeləfənts/
plural of “elephant” — five-toed pachyderm
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
set up or found
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
giraffesnounUS /dʒərˈæfs/
plural of “giraffe” — tallest living quadruped; having a spotted coat and small horns and very long neck and legs; of savannahs of tropical Africa
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
junglenounUS /ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
LEARNSverbUS /lɜːrnz/
third-person singular of “learn” — gain knowledge or skills
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading And there was also a queer, wild-animal smell, which Nero liked very much.
lionsnounUS /ˈlaɪənz/
plural of “lion” — large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
monkeysnounUS /ˈmʌŋkiz/
plural of “monkey” — any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
NEROnounUS /ˈnɪroʊ/
Roman Emperor notorious for his monstrous vice and fantastic luxury (was said to have started a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64) but the Roman Empire remained prosperous during his rule (37-68)
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
niceradjectiveUS /ˈnaɪsər/
comparative of “nice” — pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
cut with a saw
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
transport commercially
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading And there was also a queer, wild-animal smell, which Nero liked very much.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
tigersnounUS /ˈtaɪɡərz/
a terrorist organization in Sri Lanka that began in 1970 as a student protest over the limited university access for Tamil students
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
TRICKSnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
precisely as stated
From this reading NERO LEARNS SOME TRICKS Nero thought the circus a very queer place indeed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
in or at the place that
From this reading But strange as it was, the circus, where he now found himself, seemed much nicer to Nero than being cooped up in the dark ship or in the freight car.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And there was also a queer, wild-animal smell, which Nero liked very much.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
wild-animal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And there was also a queer, wild-animal smell, which Nero liked very much.
wolvesnounUS /wʊlvz/
plural of “wolf” — any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading For there were many wild animals in the circus--other lions, tigers, elephants, camels, giraffes, several cages of monkeys, some wolves, a bear or two, and others that Nero did not see until later.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It was as queer to him as the wild jungle would be to you if you saw it for the first time.
