Chapter III · Chapter 3

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

anew

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

fear resulting from the awareness of danger

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

eat an early morning meal

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

-ing form of “chirp” — make high-pitched sounds

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

state emphatically and authoritatively

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

at any time

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

cause to be firmly attached

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

any federal law-enforcement officer

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

made afraid

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

jump lightly

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

be the source of pain

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Jane Taylor.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

an old word for “no”

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

not any; not one

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

refrain from harming

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

United States composer and music critic (1885-1966)

From this reading Jane Taylor.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

propel through the air

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

plural of “worm” — any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae

From this reading And see the poor birds how they fly to and fro, They're come for their breakfast again; But the little worms all are hid under the snow, They hop about chirping in vain.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Then open the window, I'll throw them some bread, I've some of my breakfast to spare: I wish they would come to my hand to be fed, But they're all flown away, I declare.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Nay, now, pretty birds, don't be frightened, I pray, You shall not be hurt, I'll engage; I'm not come to catch you and force you away, And fasten you up in a cage.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I wish you could know you've no cause for alarm, From me you have nothing to fear; Why, my little fingers could do you no harm, Although you came ever so near.