used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was very dismal, indeed.
beeches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
clutchesnounUS /ˈklʌtʃəz/
the act of grasping
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was very dismal, indeed.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading “Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was very dismal, indeed.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
grufflyadverbUS /ˈɡrʌfli/
in a gruff manner
From this reading “Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was very dismal, indeed.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was very dismal, indeed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was very dismal, indeed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
not any; not one
From this reading “Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
poplars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
prophetnounUS /ˈprɑːfət/
an authoritative person who divines the future
From this reading “Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was very dismal, indeed.
sluggishlyadverbUS /ˈslʌɡɪʃli/
in a sluggish manner
From this reading His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was very dismal, indeed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
up to a particular time
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
very small
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading “Have no fear,” said the owl prophet, not so gruffly as usual.
precisely as stated
From this reading His heart beat sluggishly, for the scene was very dismal, indeed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As he flew through the air in the clutches of the owl, Tiny realized what a small, helpless creature he was.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
willowsnounUS /ˈwɪloʊz/
plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was filled, in one place, with branches of willows, beeches, poplars, and other trees.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Not a word was spoken till they stopped at the bank of a creek, which looked to him like a great river.
