used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
anew
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
(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 broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
arrangementnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/
the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
babiesnounUS /ˈbeɪbiz/
plural of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
lacking funds
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
carnivalnounUS /ˈkɑːrnəvəl/
a festival marked by merrymaking and processions
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
an occurrence of something
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
catsnounUS /kæts/
plural of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading Traps, cats, poison, we tried everything, but they outstayed us.
cradlesnounUS /ˈkreɪdəlz/
plural of “cradle” — a baby bed with sides and rockers
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
cyanidenounUS /ˈsaɪənaɪd/
any of a class of organic compounds containing the cyano radical -CN
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
defiedverbUS /dɪˈfaɪd/
inflected form of “defy” — resist or confront with resistance
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
at any time
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Traps, cats, poison, we tried everything, but they outstayed us.
ferretsnounUS /ˈferəts/
plural of “ferret” — musteline mammal of prairie regions of United States; nearly extinct
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
gnawedverbUS /nɔːd/
past form of “gnaw” — bite or chew on with the teeth
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
outstayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Traps, cats, poison, we tried everything, but they outstayed us.
outwitverbUS /ˈaʊtwɪt/
beat through cleverness and wit
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
PiedadjectiveUS /paɪd/
having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
PipernounUS /ˈpaɪpər/
someone who plays the bagpipe
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
poisonverbUS /ˈpɔɪzən/
spoil as if by poison
From this reading Traps, cats, poison, we tried everything, but they outstayed us.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading The rats took possession.
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading The rats took possession.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
sinkverbUS /sɪŋk/
fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
spacesnounUS /ˈspeɪsəz/
plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The rats took possession.
TrapsnounUS /træps/
plural of “trap” — a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading Traps, cats, poison, we tried everything, but they outstayed us.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Traps, cats, poison, we tried everything, but they outstayed us.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading If ever we get into a like case again I shall be tempted to try ferrets or cyanide.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Traps, cats, poison, we tried everything, but they outstayed us.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Before the end of the first winter of that arrangement we were praying for a visit from the Pied Piper.
woodworknounUS /ˈwʊdwɜːrk/
work made of wood; especially moldings or stairways or furniture
From this reading They broke dishes, seemingly for the fun of it; they gnawed the softened woodwork around the kitchen sink and held high carnival at midnight throughout the spaces between the walls; they all but bit the babies in their cradles and defied all our efforts to outwit them.
