used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
anew
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
(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 The snarling was all over; drink, and the effects of drink, were old stories.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Understandings seemed to be arrived at between threes and fours and half-dozens.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading Not their outward parts, their mere feathers, but their inner parts arranged the groupings.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Understandings seemed to be arrived at between threes and fours and half-dozens.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Understandings seemed to be arrived at between threes and fours and half-dozens.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Understandings seemed to be arrived at between threes and fours and half-dozens.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not their outward parts, their mere feathers, but their inner parts arranged the groupings.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
an occurrence of something
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
cattlemennounUS /ˈkætəlmən/
plural of “cattleman” — a man who raises (or tends) cattle
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
cliquishnessnoun
tendency to associate with only a select group
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
take in liquids
From this reading The snarling was all over; drink, and the effects of drink, were old stories.
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading The snarling was all over; drink, and the effects of drink, were old stories.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/
join tongue and groove, in carpentry
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading Not their outward parts, their mere feathers, but their inner parts arranged the groupings.
foursnounUS /fɔːrz/
plural of “four” — the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Understandings seemed to be arrived at between threes and fours and half-dozens.
groupingsnounUS /ˈɡruːpɪŋz/
plural of “grouping” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Not their outward parts, their mere feathers, but their inner parts arranged the groupings.
half-dozens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Understandings seemed to be arrived at between threes and fours and half-dozens.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
located inward
From this reading Not their outward parts, their mere feathers, but their inner parts arranged the groupings.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading Not their outward parts, their mere feathers, but their inner parts arranged the groupings.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
not any; not one
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The snarling was all over; drink, and the effects of drink, were old stories.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading Not their outward parts, their mere feathers, but their inner parts arranged the groupings.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The snarling was all over; drink, and the effects of drink, were old stories.
the local environment
From this reading Not their outward parts, their mere feathers, but their inner parts arranged the groupings.
proverbsnounUS /ˈprɑːvərbz/
an Old Testament book consisting of proverbs from various Israeli sages (including Solomon)
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
ready-madeadjective
made for purchase and immediate use
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Understandings seemed to be arrived at between threes and fours and half-dozens.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
similenoun
a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with “like” or “as”)
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
snarlingverbUS /ˈsnɑːrlɪŋ/
-ing form of “snarl” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading The snarling was all over; drink, and the effects of drink, were old stories.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The snarling was all over; drink, and the effects of drink, were old stories.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Not their outward parts, their mere feathers, but their inner parts arranged the groupings.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
threesnounUS /θriːz/
plural of “three” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Understandings seemed to be arrived at between threes and fours and half-dozens.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
UnderstandingsnounUS /ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋz/
plural of “understanding” — the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading Understandings seemed to be arrived at between threes and fours and half-dozens.
wanderverbUS /ˈwɑːndər/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not exactly cliquishness--it was more a case of "birds of a feather"--No, that simile is bad, as are most ready-made proverbs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The snarling was all over; drink, and the effects of drink, were old stories.
at the time that
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Now there began to be signs of how the cattlemen would wander off together when they came to land again.
