used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
chestnutsnounUS /ˈtʃesnəts/
plural of “chestnut” — wood of any of various chestnut trees of the genus Castanea
From this reading There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And David had got farther and farther from his house, but he was where he could see the road.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading One morning in the fall David had gone after the squirrels.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading And David had got farther and farther from his house, but he was where he could see the road.
flashingnounUS /ˈflæʃɪŋ/
a short vivid experience
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And David had got farther and farther from his house, but he was where he could see the road.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
the act of departing
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
destroyed or killed
From this reading One morning in the fall David had gone after the squirrels.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading And David had got farther and farther from his house, but he was where he could see the road.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One morning in the fall David had gone after the squirrels.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading And David had got farther and farther from his house, but he was where he could see the road.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One morning in the fall David had gone after the squirrels.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
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 There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One morning in the fall David had gone after the squirrels.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning in the fall David had gone after the squirrels.
coated with paint
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading And David had got farther and farther from his house, but he was where he could see the road.
cut with a saw
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading And David had got farther and farther from his house, but he was where he could see the road.
spick-and-spanadjective
conspicuously new
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
squirrelsnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəlz/
plural of “squirrel” — a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
stripesnounUS /straɪps/
V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
precisely as stated
From this reading There were a great many squirrels about, for the chestnuts had begun to fall, and the squirrels were very busy.
wagonnounUS /ˈwæɡən/
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
at the time that
From this reading David used to try to get near them, but he always told his cat to stay at home when he was going after them, for the squirrels were afraid of his cat.
in or at the place that
From this reading And David had got farther and farther from his house, but he was where he could see the road.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading And he heard the rattle of a wagon, and he looked and saw a very spick-and-span new wagon, painted red, with yellow and black stripes on it, and the wheels were flashing in the sun as they turned.
