used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
(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 trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
animal'snounUS /ˈænəməlz/
possessive form of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
billy-goat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
bleated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/
plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
burned-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
coaxinglyadverb
in a cajoling manner
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
a small house with a single story
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
dried-upadjective
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
Greenacre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
half-starved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
hornedadjectiveUS /hɔːrnd/
having a horn or horns or hornlike parts or horns of a particular kind
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
Mildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
Milly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
NEIGHBOURLYadjectiveUS /ˈneɪbərli/
exhibiting the qualities expected in a friendly neighbor
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
not any; not one
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
nourishmentnounUS /ˈnɜːrɪʃmənt/
a source of materials to nourish the body
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
parchedadjectiveUS /pɑːrtʃt/
dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
piteouslyadverb
in a piteous manner
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
rubbedverbUS /rʌbd/
inflected form of “rub” — move over something with pressure
From this reading A half-starved looking billy-goat rubbed its horned head coaxingly against her and bleated piteously.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
sicklyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪkli/
unhealthy looking
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
sunkenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌŋkən/
having a sunken area
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
express in words
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
thornnounUS /θɔːrn/
something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
hard to endure
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
vainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
precisely as stated
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
water-can
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a sickly smell in the air of dying May flowers; the parched blossoms fell fast on her head as she stooped over the nearly dried-up stream to fill her water-can.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A NEIGHBOURLY ACTION It was a week after the finding of the water, and Mildred Greenacre was in the little orchard at the back of the cottage.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was trying its best to tell her that there was no nourishment in the burned-up grass, which was all it had to live on.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Milly was paying very little attention to the poor animal's complaint, for she was kneeling on the bank, holding on to a thorn bush with one hand, while she vainly strove to reach the sunken water with the other.
