Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

having life or vigor or spirit

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

have

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

plural of “cabbage” — any of various types of cabbage

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

of or relating to the life and times of kings Charles I or Charles II of England

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

in a clumsy manner

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

enjoying or affording comforting warmth and shelter especially in a small space

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

tiny lobster-like crustaceans usually boiled briefly

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

plural of “cub” — an awkward and inexperienced youth

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

the habitation of wild animals

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

with eagerness; in an eager manner

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

a social unit living together

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

any federal law-enforcement officer

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

provide as food

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

the act of consuming food

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

plural of “forest” — the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

plural of “frog” — any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

in a greedy manner

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

in a gruff manner

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

in a joyous manner

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

full of juice

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

and nothing more

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

take somebody somewhere

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

having characteristics that attract love or affection

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

feeling or showing love and affection

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

above and across; more than

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

a person who requires medical care

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

very bad

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

thrown together in a disorderly fashion

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

a long projecting or anterior elongation of an animal's head; especially the nose

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

plural of “sprout” — any new growth of a plant such as a new branch or a bud

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

plural of “swamp” — low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

the removal of covering

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Woof, woof,” answered back the two round black balls of animated fur--the cubs, as they scrambled eagerly and clumsily over the log, and began to feed greedily upon their mother’s find.

precisely as stated

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

in or at the place that

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The little black mother bear and her two cubs lived in a cozy den just below Porcupine Ridge, which happened to be far up on the side of Cushman Mountain.

which person or people

From this reading They were a happy little family, the three bears, and every day the two cubs grew more ball-like and lovable to their patient mother, who always managed to lead them to the very best feeding places.

in the company of; together with

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

the yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving

From this reading _In loving memory of My Mother, EMMA CAROLINE FIELD_ “Woof, woof, woof,” called the little black mother bear gruffly, turning over a rotten log with her snout and uncovering a fine ant’s nest.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Through the dense, dark spruce forests, far down into the swamps below she took them, where they fed happily upon young frogs or crawfish, and the juicy sprouts of the skunk cabbages.