used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
(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 I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
beaknounUS /biːk/
beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
have
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
brightestadjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtəst/
superlative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
feathersnounUS /ˈfeðərz/
plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
a long fixed look
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
coins made of gold
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
not any; not one
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
on one occasion
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
rubiesnounUS /ˈruːbiz/
plural of “ruby” — a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
express in words
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
sky-bluenoun
a light shade of blue
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
not in physical motion
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
express in words
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
up to a particular time
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
(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 In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest.
