used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
any thing at all
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
beaknounUS /biːk/
beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
for the reason that
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
complainverbUS /kəmˈpleɪn/
express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
a young female
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
jet-blackadjective
of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
not any; not one
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
a full supply
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
reed-warbler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading And yet he wanted something.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
the season of growth
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading And yet he wanted something.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was not because he really had anything to complain of.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sun was shining; there were flies in plenty; and no one was doing him harm.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A little while before, a pretty girl, with jet-black eyes, had sat under the bush and listened to his song and kissed her hand to him.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet he wanted something.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The Beginning One day in early spring, a young reed-warbler sat in a bush in Italy and hung his beak.
