used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She and Alie had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Mrs. Vane stopped for a moment and looked after them.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
Alie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Alie had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She and Alie had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
barknounUS /bɑːrk/
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She and Alie had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
BridgetnounUS /ˈbrɪdʒət/
Irish abbess; a patron saint of Ireland (453-523)
From this reading She and Alie had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
a young person of either sex
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
without doubt or question
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
dog'snounUS /dɔːɡz/
possessive form of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
elvesnounUS /elvz/
an acronym for emissions of light and very low frequency perturbations due to electromagnetic pulse sources
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She and Alie had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Mrs. Vane stopped for a moment and looked after them.
mischievousadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstʃəvəs/
naughtily or annoyingly playful
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
a particular point in time
From this reading Mrs. Vane stopped for a moment and looked after them.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
on one occasion
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
overtakeverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪk/
catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
Rosalys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She and Alie had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
Smuttie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
speciesnounUS /ˈspiːʃiz/
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
not in physical motion
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Mrs. Vane stopped for a moment and looked after them.
successive (without a break)
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading She and Alie had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Mrs. Vane stopped for a moment and looked after them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
in the direction of
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
hard to endure
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
two times
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
VanenounUS /veɪn/
mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading She and Alie had been talking about Bridget as they walked.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
whereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/
in contrast with the fact that
From this reading _Child Nature._ Bride and Smuttie did not overtake Mrs. Vane and Rosalys, for they were running towards the sea, whereas the others were walking straight along the shore.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading But the dog's bark and the sound once or twice of the child's voice speaking to him came clearly through the still winter air.
the words that are spoken
From this reading A TRYING CHILD 'I think words are little live creatures, A species of mischievous elves.'
