used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
(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's a fight for existence all the way round, this living in Kansas."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
EasternadjectiveUS /ˈiːstərn/
lying toward or situated in the east
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading It's a fight for existence all the way round, this living in Kansas."
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
flounderingverbUS /ˈflaʊndərɪŋ/
-ing form of “flounder” — walk with great difficulty
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
flower-bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It's a fight for existence all the way round, this living in Kansas."
at or to or toward the front
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
a feeling of righteous anger
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
iron-graynoun
the color of freshly broken cast iron
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
KansasnounUS /ˈkænzəs/
a state in midwestern United States
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading It's a fight for existence all the way round, this living in Kansas."
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading It's a fight for existence all the way round, this living in Kansas."
ruffledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌfəld/
shaken into waves or undulations as by wind
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
successive (without a break)
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
thimblenounUS /ˈθɪmbəl/
as much as a thimble will hold
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It's a fight for existence all the way round, this living in Kansas."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
uppishadjective
(used colloquially) overly conceited or arrogant
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It's a fight for existence all the way round, this living in Kansas."
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
which person or people
From this reading Her companion was a man with iron-gray hair, a professor of an Eastern college who had come West, planted what money he had in real estate and lost it.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
window-pane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Post Mistress at the station tapped her thimble on the window-pane at the chickens floundering in the flower-bed outside.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They turned, looked at her, then, rising, staggered off with a ruffled and uppish air, due partly to their indignation and partly to the fact that the wind blew their feathers straight up, and a trifle forward over their heads.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "It's bad enough," she said, "to try and raise flowers in Kansas, fighting the wind, without having to fight the chickens.
