adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
antnounUS /ænt/
social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
bednounUS /bed/
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
brilliantadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪljənt/
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
cavenounUS /keɪv/
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
ChildnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
curtainnounUS /ˈkɜːrtən/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
depriveverbUS /dɪˈpraɪv/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
dragon-fly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
DURINGprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
entreated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
fallverbUS /fɔːl/
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
fire-flies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
footnounUS /fʊt/
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/
plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
gnatsnounUS /næts/
plural of “gnat” — any of various small biting flies: midges; biting midges; black flies; sand flies
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
hostnounUS /hoʊst/
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
hungverbUS /hʌŋ/
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
industriouslyadverb
in an industrious manner
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/
set down according to a plan
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/
for more time
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
merryadjectiveUS /ˈmeri/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
mischievousadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstʃəvəs/
naughtily or annoyingly playful
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
mossnounUS /mɔːs/
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
mouthnounUS /maʊθ/
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
peepingverbUS /ˈpiːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
pureadjectiveUS /pjʊr/
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
restverbUS /rest/
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
revelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
sistersnounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
sleepnounUS /sliːp/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
slumbers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
spidernounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
spinningnounUS /ˈspɪnɪŋ/
creating thread
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading DURING this conversation the dragon-fly had been preparing a bed for her host.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading And the dragon-fly and her sisters raised the curtain till the Child had laid him down to rest, and then let it fall again, that the mischievous gnats might not get in to disturb his slumbers.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
webnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The moss upon which the Child sat had grown a foot high behind his back, out of pure joy; but the dragon-fly and her sisters had so revelled upon it, that it was now laid at its length along the cave.
woodnounUS /wʊd/
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading But as the Child saw the ant peeping up at him, he entreated the fire-flies not to deprive themselves any longer of their merry games in the wood on his account.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The dragon-fly had awakened every spider in the neighbourhood out of her sleep, and when they saw the brilliant light, they had set to work spinning so industriously that their web hung down like a curtain before the mouth of the cave.
