used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
another's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Not many of the birds in our yard are quarrelsome.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SOME OTHER BIRDS AT WORK.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading SOME OTHER BIRDS AT WORK.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
hawksnounUS /hɔːks/
plural of “hawk” — diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not many of the birds in our yard are quarrelsome.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
engage in
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
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 Not many of the birds in our yard are quarrelsome.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
nestingverbUS /ˈnestɪŋ/
-ing form of “nest” — inhabit a nest, usually after building
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not many of the birds in our yard are quarrelsome.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not many of the birds in our yard are quarrelsome.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading SOME OTHER BIRDS AT WORK.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Not many of the birds in our yard are quarrelsome.
owlsnounUS /aʊlz/
plural of “owl” — nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
quarrelsomeadjectiveUS /ˈkwɔːrəlsəm/
given to quarreling
From this reading Not many of the birds in our yard are quarrelsome.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
plural of “right” — an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
shrikes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading SOME OTHER BIRDS AT WORK.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
express in words
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Not many of the birds in our yard are quarrelsome.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They seem to respect one another's rights, especially at nesting time.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading That is why we spoke a good word for the shrikes and the hawks and the owls.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading SOME OTHER BIRDS AT WORK.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Not many of the birds in our yard are quarrelsome.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It is not so much our business to tell bad or unpleasant things about birds, as to tell what is pleasant and what will make you love them.
