used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A troop of allouattes commenced a concert, their unmusical howlings echoing through the forest.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
allouattes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A troop of allouattes commenced a concert, their unmusical howlings echoing through the forest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
canopynounUS /ˈkæn.ə.pi/
An overhead roof or structure, such as the high vaulted ceiling of an ancient library.
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
commencedverbUS /kəˈmenst/
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A troop of allouattes commenced a concert, their unmusical howlings echoing through the forest.
concertnounUS /ˈkɑːnsərt/
a performance of music by players or singers not involving theatrical staging
From this reading A troop of allouattes commenced a concert, their unmusical howlings echoing through the forest.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
dark-greenadjective
of the color between blue and yellow in the color spectrum; similar to the color of fresh grass
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
echoingadjectiveUS /ˈekoʊɪŋ/
(of sounds) repeating by reflection
From this reading A troop of allouattes commenced a concert, their unmusical howlings echoing through the forest.
plural of “family” — a social unit living together
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
the act of giving
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
howlings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A troop of allouattes commenced a concert, their unmusical howlings echoing through the forest.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
intensest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
macawsnounUS /məˈkɔːz/
plural of “macaw” — long-tailed brilliantly colored parrot of Central America and South America; among the largest and showiest of parrots
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
openingsnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋz/
plural of “opening” — an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
parrotsnounUS /ˈperəts/
plural of “parrot” — usually brightly colored zygodactyl tropical birds with short hooked beaks and the ability to mimic sounds
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
Identical; not different.
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
screamedverbUS /skriːmd/
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
express in speech
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A troop of allouattes commenced a concert, their unmusical howlings echoing through the forest.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was getting late, too, as we could judge by the increasing gloom in the forest.
troopnounUS /truːp/
a group of soldiers
From this reading A troop of allouattes commenced a concert, their unmusical howlings echoing through the forest.
unmusicaladjective
lacking interest in or talent for music
From this reading A troop of allouattes commenced a concert, their unmusical howlings echoing through the forest.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
ventnounUS /vent/
a hole for the escape of gas or air
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
at the time that
From this reading I was greatly relieved when I heard him speak; at the same time his voice was so weak, that we were unwilling to do as he begged us.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Looking up through the occasional openings in the dark-green canopy above our heads, we could see the sky, which had now become of the intensest shade of blue.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Numerous macaws passed above us, giving vent to strange harsh cries; while whole families of parrots screamed in various notes.
