used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
addernounUS /ˈædər/
a person who adds numbers
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The pheasant chicks ceased piping, and lay still as death.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
Berus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The pheasant chicks ceased piping, and lay still as death.
chicksnounUS /tʃɪks/
plural of “chick” — young bird especially of domestic fowl
From this reading The pheasant chicks ceased piping, and lay still as death.
coilsnounUS /kɔɪlz/
plural of “coil” — a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The pheasant chicks ceased piping, and lay still as death.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Each prepared for its last stand in different fashion.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each prepared for its last stand in different fashion.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Each prepared for its last stand in different fashion.
field-folk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
flattenedadjectiveUS /ˈflætənd/
having been flattened
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
flingverbUS /flɪŋ/
throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Each prepared for its last stand in different fashion.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
haunches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Each prepared for its last stand in different fashion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Each prepared for its last stand in different fashion.
immediately past
From this reading Each prepared for its last stand in different fashion.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The pheasant chicks ceased piping, and lay still as death.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
and nothing more
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
pheasantnounUS /ˈfezənt/
large long-tailed gallinaceous bird native to the Old World but introduced elsewhere
From this reading The pheasant chicks ceased piping, and lay still as death.
pipingnounUS /ˈpaɪpɪŋ/
a thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems
From this reading The pheasant chicks ceased piping, and lay still as death.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Each prepared for its last stand in different fashion.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
spiralnounUS /ˈspaɪrəl/
a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at increasing distances from the center
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
make square
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Each prepared for its last stand in different fashion.
not in physical motion
From this reading The pheasant chicks ceased piping, and lay still as death.
dependable
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
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 Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
thistle-clump
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rat selected a stout thistle-clump, planted his back against it, and sat back on his haunches.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
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 Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Berus the adder made a flattened spiral of his coils, and raised his head a trifle off the ground, ready to fling his whole weight forward from the tail.
in the company of; together with
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading * * * * * Only a square of forty yards remained, packed from end to end with desperate field-folk.
