used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
(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 TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/
more than enough in size or scope or capacity
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
propose a payment
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
cacklingverbUS /ˈkækəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “cackle” — talk or utter in a cackling manner
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
congratulateverbUS /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading However, you have escaped danger _twice_, and you have reason to congratulate yourself.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading However, you have escaped danger _twice_, and you have reason to congratulate yourself.
decoynounUS /dəˈkɔɪ/
a beguiler who leads someone into danger (usually as part of a plot)
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
greatly pleased
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
DUCK'SnounUS /dʌks/
possessive form of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
eggsnounUS /eɡz/
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading However, you have escaped danger _twice_, and you have reason to congratulate yourself.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
fledgedadjectiveUS /fledʒd/
(of birds) having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
moving swiftly
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
set up or found
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
guidingadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdɪŋ/
exerting control or influence
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
hatchingnounUS /ˈhætʃɪŋ/
the production of young from an egg
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading However, you have escaped danger _twice_, and you have reason to congratulate yourself.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
hennounUS /hen/
adult female chicken
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, you have escaped danger _twice_, and you have reason to congratulate yourself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
not any; not one
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
paymentnounUS /ˈpeɪmənt/
a sum of money paid or a claim discharged
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
quacknounUS /kwæk/
an untrained person who pretends to be a physician and who dispenses medical advice
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading However, you have escaped danger _twice_, and you have reason to congratulate yourself.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
in the near future
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
stationsnounUS /ˈsteɪʃənz/
(Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
TAMEverbUS /teɪm/
correct by punishment or discipline
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
express in words
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
thoughtlessadjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtləs/
showing lack of careful thought
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
two times
From this reading However, you have escaped danger _twice_, and you have reason to congratulate yourself.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading I have been sitting here upon ten eggs for three weeks past, and of course have another week to be confined; but then the thoughts of the pleasure I shall have in hatching and guiding my young ones to the water, is ample payment for all my pains.
(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 _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
at the time that
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
which person or people
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
WILDINGnounUS /ˈwaɪldɪŋ/
a wild uncultivated plant (especially a wild apple or crabapple tree)
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading They will look so clean and so delighted, and will do as they are bid by the smallest quack that I can utter, that I must be a bad mother indeed if I am not proud of them.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that we have a creature here--fledged indeed--which is called a hen; a strange, cackling, flying, useless, noisy, silly creature, which is as much afraid of water as you are of your decoy.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading _THE TAME DUCK'S REPLY._ COUSIN WILDING, I confess I did not at all expect to hear from you; for I always believed you to be one of those thoughtless young creatures which are to be found in other stations of life as well as in yours and mine, who, as soon as they get fledged and able to get abroad, care no more for their parents and those who brought them up than I care for a shower of rain.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading However, you have escaped danger _twice_, and you have reason to congratulate yourself.
