1
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
cluckings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
crouchverbUS /kraʊtʃ/
bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
dispositionsnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “disposition” — your usual mood
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
divisible by two
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
an established custom
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
hedgeverbUS /hedʒ/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
hennounUS /hen/
adult female chicken
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
hen-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
hensnounUS /henz/
plural of “hen” — adult female chicken
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
hiding-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
INCUBATIONnounUS /ˌɪŋkjuːˈbeɪʃən/
maintaining something at the most favorable temperature for its development
From this reading INCUBATION “Incubation means lying upon.
indefatigableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈfætɪɡəbəl/
showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
instinctsnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkts/
plural of “instinct” — inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
go away from a place
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading INCUBATION “Incubation means lying upon.
engage in
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
maternaladjectiveUS /məˈtɜːrnəl/
characteristic of a mother
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
mattressnounUS /ˈmætrəs/
a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading INCUBATION “Incubation means lying upon.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
not any; not one
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
perseverancenounUS /ˌpɝː.səˈvɪr.əns/
Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in success. (Sự kiên trì, bền bỉ không bỏ cuộc.)
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
any competition
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
recurring again and again
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
ruffledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌfəld/
shaken into waves or undulations as by wind
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
try to get or reach
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
selectadjectiveUS /səˈlekt/
of superior grade
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
staysnounUS /steɪz/
a woman's close-fitting foundation garment
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
thicketnounUS /ˈθɪkɪt/
a dense group of bushes or small trees
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading INCUBATION “Incubation means lying upon.
migratory
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
warmingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːrmɪŋ/
imparting heat
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading They leave the hen-house and seek a hedge or thicket, where they select a hiding-place to suit them, and there make a little hollow in the earth which they line as well as they can with a mattress of dry grass, leaves, and feathers.
at the time that
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
in or at the place that
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading “Some hens with wandering dispositions go back to the instincts of their wild race.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading When a hen wishes to set, [1] she makes it known by her repeated cluckings, little cries of maternal anxiety, by her ruffled feathers, her restless movements, and particularly by the perseverance with which she stays on the nest, even when it has no eggs, where she has been in the habit of laying.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The brooding bird does in fact crouch or lie upon her eggs, warming them with the heat of her body for a number of days with indefatigable patience.
