used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was in the afternoon near a big old water-butt.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading The trouble was, they were too big and ate you up.
beenounUS /biː/
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was in the afternoon near a big old water-butt.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
demanding attention
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
a person who is older than you are
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
FORTRESSnounUS /ˈfɔːrtrəs/
a fortified defensive structure
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
intense and profound fear
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was in the afternoon near a big old water-butt.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
engage in
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
MayanounUS /ˈmaɪə/
a member of an American Indian people of Yucatan and Belize and Guatemala who had a culture (which reached its peak between AD 300 and 900) characterized by outstanding architecture and pottery and astronomy
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
merrilyadverbUS /ˈmerəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
mirroredadjectiveUS /ˈmɪrərd/
like or characteristic of a mirror image
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
miserablyadverbUS /ˈmɪzərəbli/
in a miserable manner
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading It was in the afternoon near a big old water-butt.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was in the afternoon near a big old water-butt.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
placidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
redbreastnoun
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
unusual or striking
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
robinnounUS /ˈrɑːbən/
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
scentedadjectiveUS /ˈsentɪd/
having the sense of smell
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy or guilt
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
songsters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
sweetlyadverbUS /ˈswiːtli/
in an affectionate or loving manner (“sweet” is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of “sweetly”)
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
possessing sweep
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The trouble was, they were too big and ate you up.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The trouble was, they were too big and ate you up.
a source of difficulty
From this reading The trouble was, they were too big and ate you up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The trouble was, they were too big and ate you up.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
precisely as stated
From this reading Before the horror swept upon her, Maya had formed a very remarkable acquaintance.
warblingverbUS /ˈwɔːrbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “warble” — sing or play with trills, alternating with the half note above or below
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FORTRESS How happily the day had begun and how miserably it was to end!
water-butt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in the afternoon near a big old water-butt.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The trouble was, they were too big and ate you up.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was sitting amid the scented elder blossoms, which lay mirrored in the placid dark surface of the butt, and a robin redbreast was warbling overhead, so sweetly and merrily that Maya thought it was a shame, a crying shame that she, a bee, could not make friends with the charming songsters.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The trouble was, they were too big and ate you up.
