used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
anew
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
on or to one side
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading ‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then the little sister cried and said, ‘Can you not be freed?’
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Then the little sister cried and said, ‘Can you not be freed?’
dennounUS /den/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
freedverbUS /friːd/
past form of “free” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Then the little sister cried and said, ‘Can you not be freed?’
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading ‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister.
not any; not one
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
and nothing more
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading ‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister.
one of four equal parts
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
regainverbUS /rɪˈɡeɪn/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
robbersnounUS /ˈrɒb.ərz/
Persons who steal from a person or place, especially using violence or threats.
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Then the little sister cried and said, ‘Can you not be freed?’
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading ‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister.
skinsnounUS /skɪnz/
plural of “skin” — a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
swanverbUS /swɑːn/
to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
swansnounUS /swɑːnz/
plural of “swan” — stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For this time we regain our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’
