used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
ash-stole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
next to; at the side of
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
Bevis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
boughnounUS /baʊ/
any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
comfortablyadverbUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbli/
in mental comfort; without stress
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading THE COUNCIL.
councillors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
divisible by two
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
only a very short time before
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
not accessible to view
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
honeysucklenounUS /ˈhʌnisʌkəl/
shrub or vine of the genus Lonicera
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
in order that something should not happen
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
loyaltynounUS /ˈlɔɪəlti/
the quality of being loyal
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
mousenounUS /maʊs/
any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
owl's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
perchnounUS /pɜːrtʃ/
support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
pollard-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
rooknounUS /rʊk/
(chess) the piece that can move any number of unoccupied squares in a direction parallel to the sides of the chessboard
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
express in speech
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
squirrelnounUS /ˈskwɜːrəl/
a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
believed likely
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Hardly had Bevis comfortably seated himself than the councillors began to arrive.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COUNCIL.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Before Bevis could ask any questions, the squirrel went off to speak to the rook, and to show him a good bough to perch on near the owl's castle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were all there; even the rat did not dare stay away, lest his loyalty should be suspected, but took up his station at the foot of the pollard-tree, and the mouse sat beside him.
in or at the place that
From this reading He then came back and conducted Bevis to the seat in the ash-stole, where he was hidden by the honeysuckle, but could see well about him.
