Chapter IV

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading The birds were singing their gayest May songs.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

the habitation of wild animals

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The birds were singing their gayest May songs.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

and nothing more

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

having abundant light or illumination

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The birds were singing their gayest May songs.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

sounding as if the nose were pinched

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

superlative of “safe” — free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading The birds were singing their gayest May songs.

superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words

From this reading The birds were singing their gayest May songs.

not moving or operating freely

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The birds were singing their gayest May songs.

a special situation

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

comparative of “tight” — closely constrained or constricted or constricting

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

of the highest quality

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

precisely as stated

From this reading It was very early in the morning, and the rising sun was just lighting up the tops of the trees.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The birds were singing their gayest May songs.

a Caucasian

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

superlative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading IX THE FOX “THE WISEST ONE” THE WISEST ONE ALMOST the first thing that the smallest baby fox remembered was being carried in his mother’s mouth from one den to another.

having a fluffy character or appearance

From this reading His woolly little red body hung limp between her long white teeth.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That was the safest way; for if he had held stiff or wriggled she might have closed her jaws tighter and pinched him.