used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading I tell you, it's getting a bit difficult to provide food for everybody.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "Certainly not!" said his wife.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
dears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading I tell you, it's getting a bit difficult to provide food for everybody.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
every person
From this reading I tell you, it's getting a bit difficult to provide food for everybody.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading I tell you, it's getting a bit difficult to provide food for everybody.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
the act of acquiring something
From this reading I tell you, it's getting a bit difficult to provide food for everybody.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Certainly not!" said his wife.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I tell you, it's getting a bit difficult to provide food for everybody.
staying power
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
not any; not one
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Certainly not!" said his wife.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
provideverbUS /prəˈvaɪd/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading I tell you, it's getting a bit difficult to provide food for everybody.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
reed-warbler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Certainly not!" said his wife.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
in the near future
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
be standing; be upright
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
having a supporting base
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
express in words
From this reading I tell you, it's getting a bit difficult to provide food for everybody.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
trampleverbUS /ˈtræmpəl/
tread or stomp heavily or roughly
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
Water-Lily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
at the time that
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading "Certainly not!" said his wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "They can stand on their legs as it is," said he, "for they nearly trample one another to death when I come along with a silly fly.
but in spite of that
From this reading "There can be no question of the little dears standing on their legs for quite a month yet."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The Water-Lily "Don't you think we shall be able to let the children out soon?" asked the reed-warbler.
