used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
(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 In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/
more than enough in size or scope or capacity
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
have
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
collectornounUS /kəˈlektər/
a person who collects things
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
curiositiesnounUS /ˌkjʊriˈɑːsətiz/
plural of “curiosity” — a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
dizzyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪzi/
having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
divisible by two
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
finchnounUS /fɪntʃ/
any of numerous small songbirds with short stout bills adapted for crushing seeds
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
floorsnounUS /flɔːrz/
plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
set up or found
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
garretnounUS /ˈɡerɪt/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
goldfinchnounUS /ˈɡoʊldfɪntʃ/
American finch whose male has yellow body plumage in summer
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
liningnounUS /ˈlaɪnɪŋ/
a protective covering that protects an inside surface
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
materialsnounUS /məˈtɪriəlz/
plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
milkweednounUS /ˈmɪlkwiːd/
any of numerous plants of the genus Asclepias having milky juice and pods that split open releasing seeds with downy tufts
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
not divisible by two
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
plannedadjectiveUS /plænd/
designed or carried out according to a plan
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
respectsnounUS /rɪˈspekts/
(often used with “pay”) a formal expression of esteem
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
Sancho
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
Snythergen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
strayverbUS /streɪ/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
a lightweight cord
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
a special situation
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
thistlenounUS /ˈθɪsəl/
any of numerous plants of the family Compositae and especially of the genera Carduus and Cirsium and Onopordum having prickly-edged leaves
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BEAR ON ICE The goldfinch stayed close to his new friends and in the end they accepted him as one of them.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
tree's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
twigsnounUS /twɪɡz/
plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
the act of using
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
look attentively
From this reading But the most interesting thing about the house was its watch tower, which rose to a dizzy height—even for a bird.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading They named him “Sancho Wing” and built him a little house on the roof of their new home.
Wing'snounUS /wɪŋz/
possessive form of “wing” — a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The living rooms were down stairs, but in the garret above there was ample space in which the finch might store stray bits of string, odd twigs, and curious little things he found in the woods—for Sancho Wing was an eager collector of curiosities.
wovenadjectiveUS /ˈwoʊvən/
made or constructed by interlacing threads or strips of material or other elements into a whole
From this reading In many respects it was not unlike the permanent nest the bird had planned to build in one of the strange tree’s branches, but it was made of regular building materials—not woven of twigs and weeds—though Snythergen remembered Sancho Wing’s weakness for soft things, and caught and saved all the thistle down and milkweed silk that blew against his leaves to use for lining the walls and floors.
