used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
baby'snounUS /ˈbeɪbiz/
possessive form of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Just what it is, but as old as the hills," remarked Jerry.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
cavitynounUS /ˈkævəti/
a sizeable hole (usually in the ground)
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
fumbledverbUS /ˈfʌmbəld/
past form of “fumble” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading "Just what it is, but as old as the hills," remarked Jerry.
the act of retaining something
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Just what it is, but as old as the hills," remarked Jerry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
JerrynounUS /ˈdʒeri/
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
and nothing more
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Just what it is, but as old as the hills," remarked Jerry.
on one occasion
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
plankverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "Just what it is, but as old as the hills," remarked Jerry.
rodentnounUS /ˈroʊdənt/
relatively small placental mammals having a single pair of constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
express in words
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
scrapsnounUS /skræps/
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
shoenounUS /ʃuː/
footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
move stealthily
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He fumbled among the scraps of paper and such stuff that had gone to form the nest of the rodent.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Just what it is, but as old as the hills," remarked Jerry.
at the time that
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A CALL FOR HELP Jerry was holding something up when he said this, which he had just picked out of the cavity under the loose plank.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, it looks as though it had once been a baby's shoe, I should say," suggested Frank.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "I wonder now, did it slip down here, or was it carried by the old mother rat when this nest was made?"
