used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
acclamations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
artillerynounUS /ɑːrˈtɪləri/
large but transportable armament
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
beenounUS /biː/
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
bladdernounUS /ˈblædər/
a distensible membranous sac (usually containing liquid or gas)
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
courtiersnounUS /ˈkɔːrtiərz/
plural of “courtier” — an attendant at the court of a sovereign
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
crowdsnounUS /kraʊdz/
plural of “crowd” — a large number of things or people considered together
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Ere long the little queen learned that her empire was in danger.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
discoursenounUS /ˈdɪskɔːrs/
extended verbal expression in speech or writing
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
dronenounUS /droʊn/
stingless male bee in a colony of social bees (especially honeybees) whose sole function is to mate with the queen
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
empirenounUS /ˈempaɪər/
the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
From this reading Ere long the little queen learned that her empire was in danger.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
a feeling of excitement
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
an old word for “before”
From this reading Ere long the little queen learned that her empire was in danger.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
furzenoun
very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
brought together in one place
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
death of a person
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
homagenounUS /ˈɑːmədʒ/
respectful deference
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ere long the little queen learned that her empire was in danger.
incliningnoun
the act of inclining; bending forward
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading Ere long the little queen learned that her empire was in danger.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Ere long the little queen learned that her empire was in danger.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
nationsnounUS /ˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
petards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
Piccolissima
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
pricklyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪkli/
very irritable
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
sceptrenounUS /ˈseptər/
the imperial authority symbolized by a scepter
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
sennanounUS /ˈsenə/
any of various plants of the genus Senna having pinnately compound leaves and showy usually yellow flowers; many are used medicinally
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
sovereignadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːv.rən/
Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ere long the little queen learned that her empire was in danger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
the chair of state for a monarch, bishop, etc.
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The artillery of the prickly furze played on both sides of the throne as the nations of flies approached to pay their homage to the queen.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
communicated in words
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
vivat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
which person or people
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
belonging to which person
From this reading To the cries of vivat, uttered with enthusiasm, Piccolissima replied by inclining her sceptre; a golden rain fell from it, and was eagerly gathered up by the surrounding crowds of humming courtiers, whose shouts and acclamations filled the air.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The bladder senna filled the air with the noise of its bursting petards.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young sovereign then had to endure a long and grave discourse from a fat drone bee who did not understand himself.
