used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
assiduouslyadverbUS /əˈsɪdwəsli/
with care and persistence
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
bowlnounUS /boʊl/
a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
Chatham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
clippedadjectiveUS /klɪpt/
cut or trimmed by clipping
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
gotten under control
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
containernounUS /kənˈteɪnər/
any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another)
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
copeverbUS /koʊp/
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
cross-sectionadjective
representing a plane made by cutting across something at right angles to its length
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
cupped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
set up or found
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
fresh-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
green-scummed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
Harry's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
hopefullyadverbUS /ˈhoʊpfəli/
with hope; in a hopeful manner
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
intrusionnounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːʒən/
any entry into an area not previously occupied
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
kneltverbUS /nelt/
inflected form of “kneel” — rest one's weight on one's knees
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
immediately past
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
liliesnounUS /ˈlɪliz/
plural of “lily” — any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
in motion
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
easily agitated
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
planktonnounUS /ˈplæŋktən/
the aggregate of small plant and animal organisms that float or drift in great numbers in fresh or salt water
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
pondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
rememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
resentedverbUS /riˈzentɪd/
past form of “resent” — feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
rightedverbUS /ˈraɪtɪd/
past form of “right” — make reparations or amends for
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
rotifers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
scissorsnounUS /ˈsɪzərz/
an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
shadowedadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊd/
filled with shade
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
stagnantadjectiveUS /ˈstæɡnənt/
not circulating or flowing
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
stemsnounUS /stemz/
plural of “stem” — (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
stifflyadverbUS /ˈstɪfli/
in a stiff manner
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
streamersnounUS /ˈstriːmərz/
plural of “streamer” — light that streams
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
submergedadjectiveUS /səbˈmɜːrdʒd/
beneath the surface of the water
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then he picked up the old scissors he had laid on the bank, and clipped the stems of the floating plants, getting as much of them as he could in the container.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading Carefully he dipped the bowl into the green-scummed water and, moving it gently, let trailing streamers of submerged water weeds drift into it.
at the time that
From this reading When he righted the bowl and got stiffly to his feet, it contained, he thought hopefully, a fair cross-section of fresh-water plankton.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was pleased with himself for remembering that term from the book he had studied assiduously for the last few nights in order to be able to cope with Harry’s inevitable questions.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading _Beneath the stagnant water shadowed by water lilies Harry found the fascinating world of the rotifers—but it was their world, and they resented intrusion._ Henry Chatham knelt by the brink of his garden pond, a glass fish bowl cupped in his thin, nervous hands.
