used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
ablyadverbUS /ˈeɪbli/
with competence; in a competent capable manner
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Go on about your business and leave me be.”
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
(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 Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
from appearances alone
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
assistedadjectiveUS /əˈsɪstɪd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Go on about your business and leave me be.”
Betsey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “Go on about your business and leave me be.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
CROWverbUS /kroʊ/
dwell on with satisfaction
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
cuffnounUS /kʌf/
the lap consisting of a turned-back hem encircling the end of the sleeve or leg
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
someone who is a detective
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
FLIESnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
fluentadjectiveUS /ˈfluːənt/
smooth and unconstrained in movement
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Go on about your business and leave me be.”
grapenounUS /ɡreɪp/
any of various juicy fruit of the genus Vitis with green or purple skins; grow in clusters
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
hornyadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrni/
feeling great sexual desire
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
impatiencenounUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/
a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
inarticulateadjectiveUS /ˌɪnɑːrˈtɪkjələt/
without or deprived of the use of speech or words
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
injuringverbUS /ˈɪndʒərɪŋ/
-ing form of “injure” — cause injuries or bodily harm to
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
inquisitiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/
showing curiosity
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
irritationnounUS /ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃən/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
conformity or harmony
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
immediately past
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
launchedverbUS /lɔːntʃt/
past form of “launch” — set up or found
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
go away from a place
From this reading “Go on about your business and leave me be.”
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Go on about your business and leave me be.”
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
Michael'snounUS /ˈmaɪkəlz/
possessive form of “michael” — (Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Go on about your business and leave me be.”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
scoldingnounUS /ˈskoʊldɪŋ/
rebuking a person harshly
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
shearsnounUS /ʃiːrz/
large scissors with strong blades
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
sidledverbUS /ˈsaɪdəld/
past form of “sidle” — move unobtrusively or furtively
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
snappingverbUS /ˈsnæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
stungadjectiveUS /stʌŋ/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
swoopedverbUS /swuːpt/
past form of “swoop” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He gave his black companion a friendly cuff that pushed him off the trellis and launched him into flight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
trellisnounUS /ˈtreləs/
latticework used to support climbing plants
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
trimmingnounUS /ˈtrɪmɪŋ/
the act of adding decoration
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
hard to endure
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
twigverbUS /twɪɡ/
branch out in a twiglike manner
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/
plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
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 Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
in or at the place that
From this reading Dick swooped across the garden, where Betsey stood laughing at him and at Michael’s irritation, and flew to the top of the stone wall where he sat scolding with all his might.
which person or people
From this reading AS THE CROW FLIES Michael was trimming the grape vines, ably assisted by Dick, who sidled along the trellis, keeping up a fluent stream of inarticulate advice and trying, apparently, to get his horny toes or his long black bill cut off by the snapping shears.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Oh, get along with you,” cried Michael at last, stung to impatience by having cut off the wrong twig in his effort to avoid injuring the inquisitive bird.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Go on about your business and leave me be.”
