used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
antennaenounUS /ænˈteni/
plural of “antenna” — an electrical device that sends or receives radio or television signals
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
for the reason that
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
elephantsnounUS /ˈeləfənts/
plural of “elephant” — five-toed pachyderm
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
a social unit living together
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/
(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
only a very short time before
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
insectnounUS /ˈɪnsekt/
small air-breathing arthropod
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
intelligentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtelɪdʒəntli/
in an intelligent manner
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
the sound of laughing
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
for more time
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
a human being
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
Piccolissima
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
prattlernoun
someone who speaks in a childish way
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Perhaps this is a little person of the family of elephants."
ThumbnounUS /θʌm/
the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was with his antennae that he had listened; they evidently served him as ears; and, when he recovered his gravity, he flew on the little girl's hand, and began to talk with her; then Piccolissima observed him more intelligently.
male cat
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
in the direction of
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
communicated in words
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
at the time that
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
belonging to which person
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading The wings of the insect fluttered, and made a little sharp noise, which, however, had nothing terrible in it, and Piccolissima perceived that her companion was laughing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was evident that the fly must laugh with his wings, because he could not laugh in any other way.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Piccolissima had hardly uttered these words, when the fly, whose antennae were longer than usual, and were turned towards the little prattler, gave such a leap that Mademoiselle Tom Thumb trembled.
