used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INTRODUCTION.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
attentiveadjectiveUS /əˈtentɪv/
(often followed by “to”) giving care or attention
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
benevolentadjectiveUS /bəˈnevələnt/
intending or showing kindness
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
broodverbUS /bruːd/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
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 I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
to an extreme degree
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
hawknounUS /hɔːk/
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
hennounUS /hen/
adult female chicken
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
INTRODUCTIONnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading AN INTRODUCTION.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a very odd one.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
not divisible by two
From this reading It was a very odd one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
ricksnounUS /rɪks/
plural of “rick” — a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
scratchingnounUS /ˈskrætʃɪŋ/
a harsh noise made by scraping
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
struttingverbUS /ˈstrʌtɪŋ/
inflected form of “strut” — to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was a very odd one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a very odd one.
at the time that
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading I thought I was a hen, strutting about amongst ricks of corn, picking here and scratching there, followed by a whole brood of chickens, toward which I felt exceedingly benevolent and attentive.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Suddenly I heard the scream of a hawk in the air above me, and instantly gave the proper cry to fetch the little creatures under my wings.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading I woke one morning, after a sound sleep,--not so sound, however, but that I had been dreaming, and that, when I awoke, I could recall my dream.
