used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had read every book he could find about animals.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He had read every book he could find about animals.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE LITTLE TRAPPER Edwy had been called “The Little Trapper.”
next to; at the side of
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
give a benediction to
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
fearless and daring
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading He had read every book he could find about animals.
box-traps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
brown-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE LITTLE TRAPPER Edwy had been called “The Little Trapper.”
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had read every book he could find about animals.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
Edwynoun
King of England who was renounced by Northumbria in favor of his brother Edgar (died in 959)
From this reading THE LITTLE TRAPPER Edwy had been called “The Little Trapper.”
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He had read every book he could find about animals.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
provide as food
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He had read every book he could find about animals.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
set up or found
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
frightenverbUS /ˈfraɪtən/
cause fear in
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE LITTLE TRAPPER Edwy had been called “The Little Trapper.”
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
only a very short time before
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had read every book he could find about animals.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
liberatedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪbɜːreɪtɪd/
(of a gas e.g.) released from chemical combination
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE LITTLE TRAPPER Edwy had been called “The Little Trapper.”
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
musk-rat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
and nothing more
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
by chance
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
pursueverbUS /pərˈsuː/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He had read every book he could find about animals.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
hit with a missile from a weapon
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
slayverbUS /sleɪ/
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
spacesnounUS /ˈspeɪsəz/
plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LITTLE TRAPPER Edwy had been called “The Little Trapper.”
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
TRAPPERnounUS /ˈtræpər/
someone who sets traps for animals (usually to obtain their furs)
From this reading THE LITTLE TRAPPER Edwy had been called “The Little Trapper.”
warriornounUS /ˈwɔːriər/
someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had made box-traps with his own hands, but in such a way, however, that it would hardly frighten the little creatures to be caught, for he would only keep the little prisoners an hour, or a minute perhaps, feed them, and let them go free.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading One day he had found in his trap a pretty brown-eyed musk-rat, and the creature found himself liberated beside his own stream, not a bit the worse for its experience.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading After reading some of them, he would be the “warrior bold”; would long to be old enough to shoot and slay and pursue big game through the forest spaces, but bless his heart, he hadn’t the least idea that there was any tragedy in it.
