used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
Amy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Amy ventured to open her eyes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
duckedverbUS /dʌkt/
past form of “duck” — to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading "Hi! ducked myself that time, sure!"
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Amy ventured to open her eyes.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
GLENnounUS /ɡlen/
a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)
From this reading THE MILL IN THE GLEN.
grinningnounUS /ˈɡrɪnɪŋ/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Amy ventured to open her eyes.
HinounUS /haɪ/
an expression of greeting
From this reading "Hi! ducked myself that time, sure!"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MILL IN THE GLEN.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
MILLverbUS /mɪl/
move about in a confused manner
From this reading THE MILL IN THE GLEN.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "Hi! ducked myself that time, sure!"
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Amy ventured to open her eyes.
relinquishverbUS /rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/
part with a possession or right
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
riskedverbUS /rɪskt/
past form of “risk” — expose to a chance of loss or damage
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
get by special effort
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
not in physical motion
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "Hi! ducked myself that time, sure!"
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Hi! ducked myself that time, sure!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MILL IN THE GLEN.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There, dripping and grinning, evidently enjoying the fright he had given her, stood her strange new acquaintance.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Hi! ducked myself that time, sure!"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Amy ventured to open her eyes.
trivialadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪviəl/
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading Amy ventured to open her eyes.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His hand still clutched the scarlet branch with its swinging nest that he had risked his safety to secure, nor would relinquish for so trivial a matter as a fall into the water.
