used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
anew
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
completely unclothed
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
caressedverbUS /kərˈest/
past form of “caress” — touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
concertnounUS /ˈkɑːnsərt/
a performance of music by players or singers not involving theatrical staging
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
crowdingnounUS /ˈkraʊdɪŋ/
a situation in which people or things are crowded together
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
opinion or judgment
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
start firing a weapon
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
set up or found
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
hoppingverbUS /ˈhɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
houndsnounUS /haʊndz/
plural of “hound” — any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
keepernounUS /ˈkiːpər/
someone in charge of other people
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
OverheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
owlsnounUS /aʊlz/
plural of “owl” — nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
arrange in a container
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
plaintiveadjectiveUS /ˈpleɪntɪv/
expressing sorrow
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
screech-owls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
shepherdnounUS /ˈʃepərd/
a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
slackenedverbUS /ˈslækənd/
past form of “slacken” — become slow or slower
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
confined on all sides
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
Thibault
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thibault caressed them as a shepherd might his sheep, as a keeper of the hounds his dogs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
communicated in words
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was pleased to see them again; he slackened his pace; he called to them; and the wolves came crowding round him.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
at the time that
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Overhead, among the bare branches, the screech-owls were hopping and fluttering, making their plaintive calls, while the other owls uttered their melancholy cries in concert.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were his flock, his hunting pack; a flock with flaming eyes, a pack with looks of fire.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
wolvesnounUS /wʊlvz/
plural of “wolf” — any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading A VILLAGE WEDDING He had made but a few steps within the forest, when he found himself surrounded by his wolves.
