adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
amusementnounUS /əˈmjuːzmənt/
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the Wolf was at the Door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
covenounUS /koʊv/
a small inlet
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
cutverbUS /kʌt/
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
DadnounUS /dæd/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
DoornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When the Wolf was at the Door.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
drainverbUS /dreɪn/
flow off gradually
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
drinkverbUS /drɪŋk/
take in liquids
From this reading Dad was feeling dry, and told Joe to fetch him a drink.
dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
favouritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Dad was feeling dry, and told Joe to fetch him a drink.
fetchverbUS /fetʃ/
go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading Dad was feeling dry, and told Joe to fetch him a drink.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
flyverbUS /flaɪ/
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Dad was feeling dry, and told Joe to fetch him a drink.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
holenounUS /hoʊl/
an opening into or through something
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
lettingnounUS /ˈletɪŋ/
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
rainedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “rain” — precipitate as rain
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
ranverbUS /ræn/
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
ridgenounUS /rɪdʒ/
a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
SeeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
shovelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
squatted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the Wolf was at the Door.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Dad was feeling dry, and told Joe to fetch him a drink.
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the Wolf was at the Door.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
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 Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
waterhole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There had been a long stretch of dry weather, and we were cleaning out the waterhole.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the Wolf was at the Door.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
wingnounUS /wɪŋ/
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
wingsnounUS /wɪŋz/
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Joe said: "See first if this cove can fly with only one wing."
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Dad was down the hole shovelling up the dirt; Joe squatted on the brink catching flies and letting them go again without their wings--a favourite amusement of his; while Dan and Dave cut a drain to turn the water that ran off the ridge into the hole--when it rained.
WolfnounUS /wʊlf/
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading When the Wolf was at the Door.
