used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
ambuscades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
put or send forth
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
dislodgedverbUS /dɪˈslɑːdʒd/
past form of “dislodge” — remove or force out from a position
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
enclosurenounUS /enˈkloʊʒər/
a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
foothillsnounUS /ˈfʊthɪlz/
plural of “foothill” — a relatively low hill on the lower slope of a mountain
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
fowls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
foxesnounUS /ˈfɑːksəz/
plural of “fox” — alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
haltingadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːltɪŋ/
disabled in the feet or legs
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
harenounUS /her/
swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
haresnounUS /herz/
plural of “hare” — swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
a narrow way or road
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
leverets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
linnetnounUS /ˈlɪnɪt/
small finch originally of the western United States and Mexico
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
magpie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
mistookverbUS /mɪˈstʊk/
inflected form of “mistake” — identify incorrectly
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
mistrustfuladjectiveUS /mɪˈstrʌstfəl/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
a particular point in time
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
novicesnounUS /ˈnɑːvəsɪz/
plural of “novice” — someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
offspringnounUS /ˈɔːfsprɪŋ/
the immediate descendants of a person
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
perchnounUS /pɜːrtʃ/
support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
quickenedverbUS /ˈkwɪkənd/
past form of “quicken” — move faster
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
with speed
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
reclaimedadjectiveUS /riˈkleɪmd/
delivered from danger
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
roosternounUS /ˈruːstər/
adult male chicken
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
roostingverbUS /ˈruːstɪŋ/
-ing form of “roost” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
scareverbUS /sker/
cause fear in
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
shrinkingnounUS /ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/
process or result of becoming less or smaller
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
be seated
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
smoothnessnounUS /ˈsmuːðnəs/
a texture without roughness; smooth to the touch
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
in the near future
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
sycamorenounUS /ˈsɪkəmɔːr/
variably colored and sometimes variegated hard tough elastic wood of a sycamore tree
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The birds mistook the hares for foxes, and in their panic dislodged the rooster from his perch.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Soon the little band entered the grassy lane which led past the magpie’s elder to the farmhouse, and there the leverets got a scare from some fowls packed as close as they could sit on a limb of the solitary sycamore.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
precisely as stated
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
at the time that
From this reading EDUCATION The low summons of the hare drew the leverets to her side, and when she set out they followed close at her heels.
in or at the place that
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Late as she was in starting, she picked her way down the rough foothills very slowly and with extreme caution; indeed, so halting was her advance, so mistrustful was she of every rock and bush, that she might have been Fear herself leading her offspring past ambuscades.
showing curiosity
From this reading But the moment she set foot on the reclaimed land—the field where the linnet was roosting by her empty nest—she quickened her steps and passed rapidly from enclosure to enclosure, the novices wondering at the smoothness of the ground and shrinking from the shadows cast by the gates under which they crept.
