used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
in actual fact
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
attainedadjectiveUS /əˈteɪnd/
achieved or reached
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
bed-ridden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
blanketnounUS /ˈblæŋkət/
bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
Dum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
felledverbUS /feld/
past form of “fell” — cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
fernsnounUS /fɜːrnz/
plural of “fern” — any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
hardihoodnoun
the trait of being willing to undertake things that involve risk or danger
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
most important element
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
mossnounUS /mɔːs/
tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
used to form the superlative
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
and nothing more
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
picnicnounUS /ˈpɪknɪk/
a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
pokingnounUS /ˈpoʊkɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
established beyond doubt
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
refusesnounUS /rəˈfjuːzəz/
plural of “refuse” — food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
rootsnounUS /ruːts/
the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
shootsnounUS /ʃuːts/
plural of “shoot” — a new branch
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
the state of being covered with unclean things
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
successive (without a break)
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
TEAKETTLEnoun
kettle for boiling water to make tea
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This tree not only clung to its old branches but had actually the hardihood to send out new shoots.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
TuckernounUS /ˈtʌkər/
United States anarchist influential before World War I (1854-1939)
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
under normal conditions
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
in or at the place that
From this reading TEAKETTLE The fallen tree where Nan and Dum Tucker had chosen to have the picnic proved to be most attractive.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Part of the roots held to the soil while part stood up like great toes, poking their way through the blanket of ferns and moss that were doing their best to cover them.
which person or people
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It was a great oak that had attained its growth before it had been felled in some wind storm, and now it lay like some bed-ridden old giant who refuses to die.
in the company of; together with
From this reading These branches were not growing as the limbs of an oak usually grow, with a slightly downward tendency from the main trunk, but shot straight to the sky, upright and vigorous.
