used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading And everybody was aware that the old gentleman stole eggs from the nests of his smaller neighbors.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But perhaps some of the things said of him were not true.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
claimedverbUS /kleɪmd/
past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
CrowverbUS /kroʊ/
dwell on with satisfaction
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
devourverbUS /dɪˈvaʊər/
destroy completely
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
eggsnounUS /eɡz/
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading And everybody was aware that the old gentleman stole eggs from the nests of his smaller neighbors.
divisible by two
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
every person
From this reading And everybody was aware that the old gentleman stole eggs from the nests of his smaller neighbors.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
forest-people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And everybody was aware that the old gentleman stole eggs from the nests of his smaller neighbors.
a man of refinement
From this reading And everybody was aware that the old gentleman stole eggs from the nests of his smaller neighbors.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But perhaps some of the things said of him were not true.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
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 A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
a form of address for a man
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading And everybody was aware that the old gentleman stole eggs from the nests of his smaller neighbors.
nestsnounUS /nests/
plural of “nest” — a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading And everybody was aware that the old gentleman stole eggs from the nests of his smaller neighbors.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But perhaps some of the things said of him were not true.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
outlawnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔː/
someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
by chance
From this reading But perhaps some of the things said of him were not true.
potato-patch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
robbingverbUS /ˈrɑːbɪŋ/
inflected form of “rob” — take something away by force or without the consent of the owner
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
robinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
rovingnounUS /ˈroʊvɪŋ/
travelling about without any clear destination
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/
small or little relative to something else
From this reading And everybody was aware that the old gentleman stole eggs from the nests of his smaller neighbors.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading But perhaps some of the things said of him were not true.
sproutsnounUS /spraʊts/
plural of “sprout” — any new growth of a plant such as a new branch or a bud
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading And everybody was aware that the old gentleman stole eggs from the nests of his smaller neighbors.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But perhaps some of the things said of him were not true.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading But perhaps some of the things said of him were not true.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A good many of the forest-people claimed that old Mr. Crow was an outlaw.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But perhaps some of the things said of him were not true.
at the time that
From this reading They said he was always roving about, robbing Farmer Green of his corn and his chickens, and digging up the potatoes when they shot their sprouts above the surface of the potato-patch.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading It was even whispered that Mr. Crow had been known to devour baby robins.
