used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Chaik Jay slept in his corner of the window sill in the kitchen behind the curtain.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
Chaik
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
clawsnounUS /klɔːz/
plural of “claw” — sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
convenientadjectiveUS /kənˈviːnjənt/
suited to your comfort or purpose or needs
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
CoonnounUS /kuːn/
an eccentric or undignified rustic
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Chaik Jay slept in his corner of the window sill in the kitchen behind the curtain.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Chaik Jay slept in his corner of the window sill in the kitchen behind the curtain.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
the organ of sight
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
set up or found
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
JaynounUS /dʒeɪ/
United States diplomat and jurist who negotiated peace treaties with Britain and served as the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1745-1829)
From this reading Chaik Jay slept in his corner of the window sill in the kitchen behind the curtain.
and nothing more
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Chaik Jay slept in his corner of the window sill in the kitchen behind the curtain.
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 It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
micenounUS /maɪs/
plural of “mouse” — any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
nibbleverbUS /ˈnɪbəl/
bite off very small pieces
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
on one occasion
From this reading Those thieving mice once tried to steal them.
perching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
raisinsnounUS /ˈreɪzənz/
plural of “raisin” — dried grape
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
sillnounUS /sɪl/
structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure
From this reading Chaik Jay slept in his corner of the window sill in the kitchen behind the curtain.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Chaik Jay slept in his corner of the window sill in the kitchen behind the curtain.
slipperyadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpəri/
causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
stealverbUS /stiːl/
take without the owner's consent
From this reading Those thieving mice once tried to steal them.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
express in words
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Chaik Jay slept in his corner of the window sill in the kitchen behind the curtain.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Those thieving mice once tried to steal them.
thievingnounUS /ˈθiːvɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading Those thieving mice once tried to steal them.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those thieving mice once tried to steal them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Those thieving mice once tried to steal them.
varnishedadjectiveUS /ˈvɑːrnɪʃt/
having a coating of stain or varnish
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It wasn’t quite so convenient as perching, for his long claws got in his way, but he found the varnished back of a chair too slippery; besides, he wanted to keep an eye on his raisins.
which person or people
From this reading Tad Coon had a big, dry cellar to hunt in and a fine supply of mice who came to nibble his corn.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Chaik Jay slept in his corner of the window sill in the kitchen behind the curtain.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I just tell you Chaik and Tad didn’t mind that rain.
