used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is a general tearing-off.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The ragged covering of the old body is finally pushed into a corner of the cocoon.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
an occurrence of something
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
caterpillarnounUS /ˈkætəpɪlər/
a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
cocoonnounUS /kəˈkuːn/
silky envelope spun by the larvae of many insects to protect pupas and by spiders to protect eggs
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
convulsionsnounUS /kənˈvʌlʃənz/
plural of “convulsion” — a sudden uncontrollable attack
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The ragged covering of the old body is finally pushed into a corner of the cocoon.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading The ragged covering of the old body is finally pushed into a corner of the cocoon.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
opinion or judgment
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The ragged covering of the old body is finally pushed into a corner of the cocoon.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading It is a general tearing-off.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
inclosed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The ragged covering of the old body is finally pushed into a corner of the cocoon.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a general tearing-off.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
jawsnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
staying power
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
METAMORPHOSISnounUS /ˌmet.əˈmɔːr.fə.sɪs/
A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one.
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The ragged covering of the old body is finally pushed into a corner of the cocoon.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
on one occasion
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The ragged covering of the old body is finally pushed into a corner of the cocoon.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading The ragged covering of the old body is finally pushed into a corner of the cocoon.
recurring again and again
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
shrivels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
skullnounUS /skʌl/
the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
splitsnounUS /splɪts/
plural of “split” — extending the legs at right angles to the trunk (one in front and the other in back)
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/
an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
From this reading With the skin comes everything: the case of the skull, jaws, eyes, legs, stomach and the rest.
tearing-off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a general tearing-off.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
in the company of; together with
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
withersnounUS /ˈwɪðərz/
the highest part of the back at the base of the neck of various animals especially draft animals
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS “ONCE inclosed in its cocoon, the caterpillar withers and shrivels up, as if dying.
wormnounUS /wɜːrm/
any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
From this reading First, the skin splits on the back; then, by repeated convulsions that pull it this way and that, the worm with much difficulty tears off its skin.
