Chapter III · Chapter 3

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

(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 A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was the same at the Reed-Warblers'.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

travel across or pass over

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

-ing form of “deny” — declare untrue; contradict

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in Europe and America; large eels are usually smoked or pickled

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading One evening he sat in the nest and sang:

opinion or judgment

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

plural of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the same at the Reed-Warblers'.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

From this reading One evening he sat in the nest and sang:

not any; not one

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One evening he sat in the nest and sang:

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the same at the Reed-Warblers'.

manifest or bring back

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

Identical; not different.

From this reading It was the same at the Reed-Warblers'.

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading One evening he sat in the nest and sang:

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It was the same at the Reed-Warblers'.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading But there was no denying that the husband was sometimes a little tired and cross.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was the same at the Reed-Warblers'.

(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.

during the time that

From this reading A Mother Time passed and all respectable bird-wives were sitting on their eggs and wearing a serious look in their eyes, while their husbands went hunting for flies or sang to them.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Then he would reflect upon the easy time which the Eel husband had and the Frog husband and the Perch husband and all the others.