used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WONDERFUL BORE.
anew
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
batsadjectiveUS /bæts/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
beenounUS /biː/
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
cause to be bored
From this reading A WONDERFUL BORE.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
cellsnounUS /selz/
plural of “cell” — any small compartment
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
clustersnounUS /ˈklʌstərz/
plural of “cluster” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
hivenounUS /haɪv/
a teeming multitude
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
ivy-coveredadjective
overgrown with ivy
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
regrettedverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪd/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
rooksnounUS /rʊks/
plural of “rook” — (chess) the piece that can move any number of unoccupied squares in a direction parallel to the sides of the chessboard
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
roostverbUS /ruːst/
sit, as on a branch
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
Silverwing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
squire's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
Stickasting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
not in physical motion
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The sun set, the rooks in the squire’s park had gone to roost, the bats flew round the ivy-covered tower of the village church.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The hive was becoming quiet and still, the bees hanging in clusters prepared to go to sleep; but Stickasting had never returned.
waxenadjective
made of or covered with wax
From this reading But never again was the poor bee to fly back to the hive, never again to labour at the waxen cells; and, alas! how little was her presence missed--still less was it regretted.
well-knownadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Silverwing listened in vain for the well-known sound of her angry hum, and wondered what could have delayed her companion.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading A WONDERFUL BORE.
