used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
(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 AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading So she paid no attention.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
barkingverbUS /ˈbɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
for the reason that
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
collienounUS /ˈkɑːli/
a silky-coated sheepdog with a long ruff and long narrow head developed in Scotland
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
Dougall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
IRRUPTIONnoun
a sudden violent entrance; a bursting in
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
kennelnounUS /ˈkenəl/
outbuilding that serves as a shelter for a dog
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
maraudersnounUS /mərˈɔːdərz/
plural of “marauder” — someone who attacks in search of booty
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
not any; not one
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading So she paid no attention.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
possumnounUS /ˈpɑːsəm/
nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
poultrynounUS /ˈpoʊltri/
a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
risernounUS /ˈraɪzər/
a person who rises (especially from bed)
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So she paid no attention.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Pen knew that it could not be one of those marauders now because it was broad day and there was no alarm amongst the chickens.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
look attentively
From this reading At night he was kept fastened in his kennel there to keep watch that no fox or 'possum came after the poultry.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading AN IRRUPTION FROM THE WORLD At all times Pen was an early riser but next morning she was up with the sun.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading While she was dressing, her collie Dougall set up a great barking in the back yard.
