used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A bear has been fishing in your brook!”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
arrowsnounUS /ˈæroʊz/
plural of “arrow” — a mark to indicate a direction or relation
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
have
From this reading A bear has been fishing in your brook!”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A bear has been fishing in your brook!”
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
the two together, not just one
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
lacking funds
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading A bear has been fishing in your brook!”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
By-and-bynoun
an indefinite time in the future
From this reading By-and-by he came to a fir tree, and crept into a hole under the root.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading By-and-by he came to a fir tree, and crept into a hole under the root.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading By-and-by he came to a fir tree, and crept into a hole under the root.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
firnounUS /fɜːr/
nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading By-and-by he came to a fir tree, and crept into a hole under the root.
fishingnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
the act of someone who fishes as a diversion
From this reading A bear has been fishing in your brook!”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry 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 At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
only a very short time before
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A bear has been fishing in your brook!”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
an opening into or through something
From this reading By-and-by he came to a fir tree, and crept into a hole under the root.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A bear has been fishing in your brook!”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
staying power
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
a particular point in time
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
rootnounUS /ruːt/
(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
From this reading By-and-by he came to a fir tree, and crept into a hole under the root.
scamperedverbUS /ˈskæmpərd/
past form of “scamper” — to move about or proceed hurriedly
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
spearnounUS /spɪr/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
spearsnounUS /spɪrz/
plural of “spear” — a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
stingverbUS /stɪŋ/
cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
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 And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At this sight the fox held his sides for laughing, and then scampered away in another direction.
very small
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading By-and-by he came to a fir tree, and crept into a hole under the root.
tugverbUS /tʌɡ/
pull hard
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading By-and-by he came to a fir tree, and crept into a hole under the root.
precisely as stated
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry 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 And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading And in a moment the whole place was full of little creatures each one with a tiny bow and a spear hardly big enough for a baby; but both arrows and spears could sting, as the bear knew very well, and in his fright he gave such a tug to his tail that it broke short off, and he rolled away into the forest as fast as his legs could carry him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Be quick, good people, and come with your bows and spears.
