used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
acacia-trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
(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 I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
antsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “ant” — 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 There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
any person at all
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
avertverbUS /əˈvɜːrt/
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading [To avert this catastrophe, the trees had all to be cut down]....
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
carpentersnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəntərz/
plural of “carpenter” — a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
catastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading [To avert this catastrophe, the trees had all to be cut down]....
child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
contemplatedverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading [To avert this catastrophe, the trees had all to be cut down]....
dearly loved
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading [To avert this catastrophe, the trees had all to be cut down]....
else's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
entomologicaladjective
of or relating to the biological science of entomology
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
in a gradual manner
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading [To avert this catastrophe, the trees had all to be cut down]....
hard-working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
hollowingverbUS /ˈhɑːloʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “hollow” — remove the inner part or the core of
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
inhabitedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈhæbətəd/
having inhabitants; lived in
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
literallyadverbUS /ˈlɪtərəli/
in a literal sense
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
used to form the superlative
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
phenomenonnounUS /fəˈnɑːmənɑːn/
any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
pursuingadjectiveUS /pərˈsuːɪŋ/
following in order to overtake or capture or as accompaniment to such pursuit
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
sacrificingverbUS /ˈsækrəfaɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “sacrifice” — endure the loss of
From this reading Dear H----, I never contemplated sacrificing my child's, or anybody else's, health to my desire for "doing good."
sawdustnounUS /ˈsɔːdʌst/
fine particles of wood made by sawing wood
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
be standing; be upright
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
studiesnounUS /ˈstʌdiz/
plural of “study” — a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading [To avert this catastrophe, the trees had all to be cut down]....
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading [To avert this catastrophe, the trees had all to be cut down]....
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
tumbleverbUS /ˈtʌmbəl/
fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
vegetablesnounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəlz/
plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
whitenedadjective
(of hair) having lost its color
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
which person or people
From this reading There is a row of large old acacia-trees near the house, inhabited by some most curious ants, who are gradually hollowing the trees out.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The next phenomenon will be that the trees will tumble on my head, while I am pursuing my entomological studies.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading I can hear them at work as I stand by the poor vegetables, and the grass all round is literally whitened with the fine sawdust made by these hard-working little carpenters.
