used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The pupils of the Beaver Creek School were in a state of pleasant excitement.
(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 All the civilized animals for miles around were present.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading All the civilized animals for miles around were present.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All the civilized animals for miles around were present.
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
BeavernounUS /ˈbiːvər/
the soft brown fur of the beaver
From this reading The pupils of the Beaver Creek School were in a state of pleasant excitement.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
civilizedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading All the civilized animals for miles around were present.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading The pupils of the Beaver Creek School were in a state of pleasant excitement.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The last day of school rolled round.
at any time
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The pupils of the Beaver Creek School were in a state of pleasant excitement.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All the civilized animals for miles around were present.
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The pupils of the Beaver Creek School were in a state of pleasant excitement.
immediately past
From this reading The last day of school rolled round.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading All the civilized animals for miles around were present.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The last day of school rolled round.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
OwlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The pupils of the Beaver Creek School were in a state of pleasant excitement.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading All the civilized animals for miles around were present.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading The pupils of the Beaver Creek School were in a state of pleasant excitement.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading The last day of school rolled round.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The last day of school rolled round.
an educational institution
From this reading The last day of school rolled round.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
sleekadjectiveUS /sliːk/
well-groomed and neatly tailored; especially too well-groomed
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
smoothedadjectiveUS /smuːðd/
made smooth by ironing
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The pupils of the Beaver Creek School were in a state of pleasant excitement.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The last day of school rolled round.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading They smoothed their feathers or brushed their fur until they were as sleek as could be.
someone who visits
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The pupils of the Beaver Creek School were in a state of pleasant excitement.
wiseradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzər/
comparative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading Mr. Owl, looking wiser and more serious than ever, was the first visitor to arrive.
