used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
a-going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
achesnounUS /eɪks/
plural of “ache” — a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
agilitynounUS /əˈdʒɪləti/
the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
BrowniesnounUS /ˈbraʊniz/
plural of “brownie” — a junior Girl Scout
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
domesticateverbUS /dəˈmestəkeɪt/
adapt (a wild plant or unclaimed land) to the environment
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
editionsnounUS /ɪˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “edition” — the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
endurancenounUS /ˈendərəns/
the power to withstand hardship or stress
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
divisible by two
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
fluffnounUS /flʌf/
any light downy material
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
fragileadjectiveUS /ˈfrædʒəl/
easily broken or damaged or destroyed
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
groannounUS /ɡroʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
grown-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
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 They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
marvellousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
the force of workers available
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
nimbleadjectiveUS /ˈnɪmbəl/
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
OwlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
paysnounUS /peɪz/
plural of “pay” — something that remunerates
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
any competition
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
rentverbUS /rent/
let for money
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
move by turning over or rotating
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
taxesnounUS /ˈtæksəz/
plural of “tax” — charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of government
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
very small
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
tuftnounUS /tʌft/
a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
tumbleverbUS /ˈtʌmbəl/
fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Old Owl shook out a tuft or two of fluff, and set her eyes a-going, and began:
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
which person or people
From this reading "The Brownies, or as they are sometimes called, the Small Folk, the Little People, or the Good People, are a race of tiny beings who domesticate themselves in a house of which some grown-up human being pays the rent and taxes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They can run and jump, and roll and tumble, with marvellous agility and endurance, and of many of the aches and pains which men and women groan under, they do not even know the names.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They are like small editions of men and women, they are too small and fragile for heavy work; they have not the strength of a man, but are a thousand times more fresh and nimble.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I should like to hear if you please," said Tommy.
