used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
any thing at all
From this reading “I don’t see anything of the demon,” Henry whispered, from the trunk of the tree.
for the reason that
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Will stood by, fumbling idly with the pistol.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
demonnounUS /ˈdiːmən/
an evil supernatural being
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t see anything of the demon,” Henry whispered, from the trunk of the tree.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
start firing a weapon
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I don’t see anything of the demon,” Henry whispered, from the trunk of the tree.
fumblingadjectiveUS /ˈfʌmbəlɪŋ/
showing lack of skill or aptitude
From this reading Will stood by, fumbling idly with the pistol.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t see anything of the demon,” Henry whispered, from the trunk of the tree.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading Will stood by, fumbling idly with the pistol.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I don’t see anything of the demon,” Henry whispered, from the trunk of the tree.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading Will stood by, fumbling idly with the pistol.
popverbUS /pɑːp/
bulge outward
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
compacted by ironing
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
scramblingverbUS /ˈskræmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “scramble” — to move hurriedly
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I don’t see anything of the demon,” Henry whispered, from the trunk of the tree.
move stealthily
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Will stood by, fumbling idly with the pistol.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
up to a particular time
From this reading “Don’t fire till I slip down, because he might pop out quick, and see me.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading “I don’t see anything of the demon,” Henry whispered, from the trunk of the tree.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading The demon, a few steps behind, pressed close against the cliff, and remained unseen.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading After much scrambling, Henry succeeded in climbing upon the tree.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading “I don’t see anything of the demon,” Henry whispered, from the trunk of the tree.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Will stood by, fumbling idly with the pistol.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Will stood by, fumbling idly with the pistol.
