used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The stone obviously had been tossed from the cliff a short distance behind the oak tree.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The stone obviously had been tossed from the cliff a short distance behind the oak tree.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
blackbirdsnounUS /ˈblækbərdz/
plural of “blackbird” — any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
BrownienounUS /ˈbraʊni/
a junior Girl Scout
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
chattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading The stone obviously had been tossed from the cliff a short distance behind the oak tree.
Connie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Open it quick!” urged Connie.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Miss Gordon gazed quickly in that direction.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The stone obviously had been tossed from the cliff a short distance behind the oak tree.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
at any time
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
forgettingverbUS /fərˈɡetɪŋ/
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The stone obviously had been tossed from the cliff a short distance behind the oak tree.
brought together in one place
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Miss Gordon gazed quickly in that direction.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Gordon gazed quickly in that direction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miss Gordon gazed quickly in that direction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Open it quick!” urged Connie.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Gordon gazed quickly in that direction.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading The stone obviously had been tossed from the cliff a short distance behind the oak tree.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The stone obviously had been tossed from the cliff a short distance behind the oak tree.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “Open it quick!” urged Connie.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading “Open it quick!” urged Connie.
with speed
From this reading Miss Gordon gazed quickly in that direction.
express in words
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
ScoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The stone obviously had been tossed from the cliff a short distance behind the oak tree.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
teasedadjectiveUS /tiːzd/
feeling mild pleasurable excitement
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
TossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The stone obviously had been tossed from the cliff a short distance behind the oak tree.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading “Open it quick!” urged Connie.
Veve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Tossed Stone So excited that they chattered like a flock of blackbirds, the Brownie Scouts gathered about Veve.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What does it say?” demanded Jane, forgetting that she ever had teased Veve about being silly.
