used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
barknounUS /bɑːrk/
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/
having the limits or boundaries established
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
cracksnounUS /kræks/
plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
disagreeablyadverb
in a disagreeable manner
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
draftyadjectiveUS /ˈdræfti/
not airtight
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
enclose with a fence
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
set up or found
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
furiousadjectiveUS /ˈfjʊriəs/
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
GoosenounUS /ɡuːs/
web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
hailstonesnounUS /ˈheɪlstoʊnz/
plural of “hailstone” — small pellet of ice that falls during a hailstorm
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
HAPPENINGSnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/
plural of “happening” — an event that happens
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
holesnounUS /hoʊlz/
plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
and nothing more
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
immediately past
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
marblesnounUS /ˈmɑːrbəlz/
a children's game played with little balls made of a hard substance (as glass)
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/
venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
pussiesnounUS /ˈpʊsiz/
plural of “pussy” — obscene terms for female genitals
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
Slown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
Slown's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
stripsnounUS /strɪps/
plural of “strip” — a relatively long narrow piece of something
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
possessing sweep
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
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 So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
precisely as stated
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
warmernounUS /ˈwɔːrmər/
device that heats water or supplies warmth to a room
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading STRANGE HAPPENINGS A furious thunder storm was sweeping down Goose Creek; hailstones nearly the size of marbles bounded from limb to limb or cut through the tender leaves on their way to earth.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Such things sometimes happened in the last days of June, but rarely were they followed by a wind as cold as that which in the night swept through the pines around the barn of Farmer Slown.
wiselyadverbUS /ˈwaɪzli/
in a wise manner
From this reading So the mother very wisely went out in search of warmer covering for their nest and after digging into leaf piles and finding them disagreeably wet, turned her attention to hunting strips of bark on the dry sides of dead trees.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading It whistled in the holes and cracks and made the wood pussies’ new home drafty and uncomfortable.
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 This search brought her to Farmer Slown’s fence, the posts of which she carefully examined until, within the yard, very near the barn, she found just what she wanted.
