the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
chirpverbUS /tʃɜːrp/
make high-pitched sounds
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
copsenoun
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
fawns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
not accessible to view
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
and nothing more
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
laurelnounUS /ˈlɔːrəl/
any of various aromatic trees of the laurel family
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
lilynounUS /ˈlɪli/
any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
LoneadjectiveUS /loʊn/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
LynxnounUS /lɪŋks/
a text browser
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
Me-o-ow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
not any; not one
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
padsnounUS /pædz/
plural of “pad” — a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
prowlernounUS /ˈpraʊlər/
someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
rimnounUS /rɪm/
the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
screamedverbUS /skriːmd/
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
twitchedverbUS /twɪtʃt/
past form of “twitch” — make an uncontrolled, short, jerky motion
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two spotted fawns heard the cry from their laurel copse on the rim of Lone Lake.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Next morning, no sooner had the birds begun to chirp themselves awake, than Mother Fleet Foot fed the fawns as usual and ate her own light breakfast of lily pads, Then she lined up the two fawns before her.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
in or at the place that
From this reading Well did they know that the slightest movement might show to some prowler of the night just where they lay hidden.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, though their big, soft eyes were round with terror, so perfectly had they been trained, they never so much as twitched an ear.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading “Me-o-ow!” screamed Old Man Lynx, from the heart of the woods.
