used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading "When the coals are cold," replied the raccoon, "I shall be happy to oblige you.
CoonnounUS /kuːn/
an eccentric or undignified rustic
From this reading Coon, oblige me with a whisk of your tail over the hearth.
dancing-school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
start firing a weapon
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
the act of departing
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading "When the coals are cold," replied the raccoon, "I shall be happy to oblige you.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Coon, oblige me with a whisk of your tail over the hearth.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "When the coals are cold," replied the raccoon, "I shall be happy to oblige you.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Coon, oblige me with a whisk of your tail over the hearth.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
obligeverbUS /əˈblaɪdʒ/
force somebody to do something
From this reading Coon, oblige me with a whisk of your tail over the hearth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Coon, oblige me with a whisk of your tail over the hearth.
raccoonnounUS /ræˈkuːn/
the fur of the North American racoon
From this reading "When the coals are cold," replied the raccoon, "I shall be happy to oblige you.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "When the coals are cold," replied the raccoon, "I shall be happy to oblige you.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
squirrelnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəl/
a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading Coon, oblige me with a whisk of your tail over the hearth.
tea-things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
treadingverbUS /ˈtredɪŋ/
-ing form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading Some coals have fallen from the fire, and we shall be treading on them."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If we are going to a ball, we really must be more sure of our steps than we are now.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
at the time that
From this reading "AND now," said the squirrel, when the tea-things were cleared away that evening, "now for dancing-school.
whiskverbUS /wɪsk/
move somewhere quickly
From this reading Coon, oblige me with a whisk of your tail over the hearth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Coon, oblige me with a whisk of your tail over the hearth.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "When the coals are cold," replied the raccoon, "I shall be happy to oblige you.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Coon, oblige me with a whisk of your tail over the hearth.
