used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
(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 They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And such restless little folks as they were!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
biggeradjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
complainedverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnd/
past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
dartingverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
a social unit living together
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
featheredadjectiveUS /ˈfeðərd/
adorned with feathers or plumes
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
a boy or man
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
fixverbUS /fɪks/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
flittingverbUS /ˈflɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “flit” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
your parents
From this reading And such restless little folks as they were!
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
JennynounUS /ˈdʒeni/
United States architect who designed the first skyscraper in which a metal skeleton was used (1832-1907)
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
conformity or harmony
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
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 “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
not any; not one
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
OrchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
perplexesverbUS /pərˈpleksɪz/
third-person singular of “perplex” — be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
RabbitnounUS /ˈræbət/
any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
worried and uneasy
From this reading And such restless little folks as they were!
snatchesnounUS /ˈsnætʃɪz/
plural of “snatch” — a small fragment
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
not in physical motion
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading And such restless little folks as they were!
carry out
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
twigverbUS /twɪɡ/
branch out in a twiglike manner
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They were not still an instant, flitting from tree to tree, twig to twig, darting out into the air and all the time keeping up an endless chattering mingled with little snatches of song.
WarblernounUS /ˈwɔːrblər/
a singer; usually a singer who adds embellishments to the song
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And such restless little folks as they were!
at the time that
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading If there is one family of feathered friends which perplexes Peter Rabbit more than another, it is the Warbler family.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Peter would no sooner fix his eyes on one than another entirely different in appearance would take its place.
WrennounUS /ren/
English architect who designed more than fifty London churches (1632-1723)
From this reading “So many of them come together and they move about so constantly that a fellow doesn't have a chance to look at one long enough to recognize him,” complained Peter to Jenny Wren one morning when the Old Orchard was fairly alive with little birds no bigger than Jenny Wren herself.
