adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Only a little dead bird,” was the answer.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading “Only a little dead bird,” was the answer.
anxiouslyadverbUS /ˈæŋkʃəsli/
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a crackling sound in the night on the Cathedral roof and a noise as of falling masonry.
birdnounUS /bɜːrd/
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading “Only a little dead bird,” was the answer.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
CathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
coldestadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊldəst/
superlative of “cold” — having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading There was a crackling sound in the night on the Cathedral roof and a noise as of falling masonry.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading “Only a little dead bird,” was the answer.
dependentadjectiveUS /dɪˈpendənt/
relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
dust-heap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading There was a crackling sound in the night on the Cathedral roof and a noise as of falling masonry.
foodnounUS /fuːd/
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
inquiredverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərd/
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
lodge-folk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
masonrynounUS /ˈmeɪsənri/
structure built of stone or brick by a mason
From this reading There was a crackling sound in the night on the Cathedral roof and a noise as of falling masonry.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There was a crackling sound in the night on the Cathedral roof and a noise as of falling masonry.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading There was a crackling sound in the night on the Cathedral roof and a noise as of falling masonry.
northnounUS /nɔːrθ/
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
OnlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading “Only a little dead bird,” was the answer.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
parapetnounUS /ˈperəpet/
a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
pigeonnounUS /ˈpɪdʒən/
wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
pigeonsnounUS /ˈpɪdʒənz/
plural of “pigeon” — wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
roofnounUS /ruːf/
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
scrapsnounUS /skræps/
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
songnounUS /sɔːŋ/
a short musical composition with words
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There was a crackling sound in the night on the Cathedral roof and a noise as of falling masonry.
sparrowsnounUS /ˈsperoʊz/
plural of “sparrow” — any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a crackling sound in the night on the Cathedral roof and a noise as of falling masonry.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
thrownadjectiveUS /θroʊn/
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Have the lodge-folk thrown out anything on to the dust-heap?” inquired one pigeon of another which was peering over the edge of the north parapet.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
wickernounUS /ˈwɪkər/
slender flexible branches or twigs (especially of willow or some canes); used for wickerwork
From this reading One day no song came up from the little wicker cage.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It was the coldest day of the winter, and the pigeons and sparrows on the Cathedral roof looked anxiously on all sides for the scraps of food which they were dependent on in hard weather.
