used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Even in the garden I could have counted a dozen.
(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 It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
ant-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
antsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “ant” — social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
blackenverbUS /ˈblækən/
make or become black
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Even in the garden I could have counted a dozen.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading “Even in the garden I could have counted a dozen.
cowsnounUS /kaʊz/
domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
DERVISHnounUS /ˈdɜːrvɪʃ/
an ascetic Muslim monk; a member of an order noted for devotional exercises involving bodily movements
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading “Even in the garden I could have counted a dozen.
divisible by two
From this reading “Even in the garden I could have counted a dozen.
to or in any or all places
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading “Even in the garden I could have counted a dozen.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Even in the garden I could have counted a dozen.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Even in the garden I could have counted a dozen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Even in the garden I could have counted a dozen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
Jules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
nourishverbUS /ˈnɜːrɪʃ/
provide with nourishment
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
plant-lice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
not in physical motion
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
carry out
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It must take a great many plant-lice to nourish all that little colony.”
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
at the time that
From this reading From some the ants are so numerous they blacken the road when they come out.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Numerous though they be,” his uncle assured him, “they will never lack cows, as plant-lice are still more numerous.
WILYadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪli/
marked by skill in deception
From this reading THE WILY DERVISH “THERE are ant-hills everywhere, large or small,” observed Jules.
