used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
anew
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
(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 So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
in a state of sleep
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
showing who or what does the action
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
cooedverbUS /kuːd/
past form of “coo” — speak softly or lovingly
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
made afraid
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
Gerda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
a young female
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
come to pass
From this reading 'You never know what will happen.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
Kay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading 'You never know what will happen.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading 'You never know what will happen.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
pigeonsnounUS /ˈpɪdʒənz/
plural of “pigeon” — wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
on the contrary
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
robbernounUS /ˈrɑːbər/
a thief who steals from someone by threatening violence
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
express in words
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading 'You never know what will happen.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading 'You never know what will happen.
in the company of; together with
From this reading 'I always sleep with a knife,' said the little robber girl.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading So Gerda told her all about it again, and the wood pigeons cooed up in their cage above them; the other pigeons were asleep.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading But now tell me again what you told me before about little Kay, and why you went out into the world.'
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Do you have that knife by you while you are asleep?' asked Gerda, looking rather frightened.
