used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
(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 THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
burrownounUS /ˈbɜːroʊ/
a hole made by an animal, usually for shelter
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now if they had stout bodies or long legs they could not do this.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Now if they had stout bodies or long legs they could not do this.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
to come or go into
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
divisible by two
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
provide as food
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now if they had stout bodies or long legs they could not do this.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Now if they had stout bodies or long legs they could not do this.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
staying power
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now if they had stout bodies or long legs they could not do this.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now if they had stout bodies or long legs they could not do this.
many times at short intervals
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Now if they had stout bodies or long legs they could not do this.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
snake-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
the season of growth
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
dependable
From this reading Now if they had stout bodies or long legs they could not do this.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
TRIBEnounUS /traɪb/
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
tunnelsnounUS /ˈtʌnəlz/
plural of “tunnel” — a passageway through or under something, usually underground (especially one for trains or cars)
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
WEASELnounUS /ˈwiːzəl/
a person who is regarded as treacherous or sneaky
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE WEASEL TRIBE Almost all the animals which belong to this tribe have very long, slender bodies and very short legs; and the reason is a simple one.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading They feed on living prey, which they often have to follow through a long and winding burrow.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But, having such snake-like bodies and such very short limbs, they can wind their way through the tunnels without any difficulty, and then spring upon their victim at the end.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Most likely they could not enter the burrow at all; and even if they did so they would be almost sure to find, before they had gone very far, that they could neither move forward or backward.
