used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "How polite we are this morning," said the centipede, swelling with conscious pride.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
centipedenounUS /ˈsentɪpiːd/
chiefly nocturnal predacious arthropod having a flattened body of 15 to 173 segments each with a pair of legs, the foremost pair being modified as prehensors
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
intentionally conceived
From this reading "How polite we are this morning," said the centipede, swelling with conscious pride.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
dearly loved
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
diggingnounUS /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/
the act of digging
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
Fiona
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
furiouslyadverbUS /ˈfjʊriəsli/
(of the elements) in a wild and stormy manner
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
glintverbUS /ɡlɪnt/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How polite we are this morning," said the centipede, swelling with conscious pride.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I suppose we want something."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
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 THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
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 Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
OREADnoun
(Greek mythology) one of the mountain nymphs
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading "How polite we are this morning," said the centipede, swelling with conscious pride.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading "How polite we are this morning," said the centipede, swelling with conscious pride.
with speed
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
rewardedverbUS /rɪˈwɔːrdɪd/
past form of “reward” — bestow honor or rewards upon
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
shovelfulnoun
the quantity a shovel can hold
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
express a supposition
From this reading "I suppose we want something."
swellingnounUS /ˈswelɪŋ/
an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement
From this reading "How polite we are this morning," said the centipede, swelling with conscious pride.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "How polite we are this morning," said the centipede, swelling with conscious pride.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "I suppose we want something."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE OREAD Fiona was out long before breakfast next morning, digging furiously in her garden.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "How polite we are this morning," said the centipede, swelling with conscious pride.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "How polite we are this morning," said the centipede, swelling with conscious pride.
wriggleverbUS /ˈrɪɡəl/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Not many minutes passed before she was rewarded by a glint of something yellow in a shovelful of earth, and there was the centipede.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You dear creature," she said, and caught it up quickly before it could wriggle away.
