Chapter IV · Chapter 4

later than; following

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

(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 Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

an experience that appalls

From this reading But now was the beginning of plagues more appalling.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading But now was the beginning of plagues more appalling.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

past form of “bloom” — produce or yield flowers

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

cause to be bored

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But now was the beginning of plagues more appalling.

plural of “caterpillar” — a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

spoiled or ruined or demolished

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

increase twofold

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

to an extraordinary extent or degree

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

emit long loud cries

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

an event that causes someone to die

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

plural of “locust” — migratory grasshoppers of warm regions having short antennae

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading But now was the beginning of plagues more appalling.

greatly increased as by multiplication

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading But now was the beginning of plagues more appalling.

plural of “oat” — annual grass of Europe and North Africa; grains used as food and fodder (referred to primarily in the plural: “oats”)

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

plural of “orchard” — garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

past form of “plague” — cause to suffer a blight

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

plural of “plague” — a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal

From this reading But now was the beginning of plagues more appalling.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

not often

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

aroused to impatience or anger

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

past form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

made neat and tidy by trimming

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

not interfered with, disturbed, or harmed

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

precisely as stated

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But now was the beginning of plagues more appalling.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "I begin to think that the poor birds were our friends, after all, and we shall now get our pay for killing them," said Fabens to Colwell, one day, while talking of the new annoyance.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

during the time that

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

in the company of; together with

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs

From this reading Another season bloomed, and the birds were very few, and the bark of the fox, and the howl of the wolf, were very seldom heard.

plural of “worm” — any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae

From this reading And worms that had served all the birds of the air with meat, now multiplied greatly, and cut down all the vines, and destroyed double the corn that the fowls had taken; while caterpillars and locusts trimmed the orchards, and plagued the oats and wheat.

infested with or damaged (as if eaten) by worms

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.

lacking in usefulness or value

From this reading Flies that had served the robins for food, swarmed forth unmolested, and stung the cherry-trees, so that they bore little fruit at all, and that little was wormy and worthless.