used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
react verbally
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
BonitonounUS /bəˈniːtoʊ/
flesh of mostly Pacific food fishes of the genus Sarda of the family Scombridae; related to but smaller than tuna
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
confoundedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaʊndɪd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
consequencesnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwensəz/
plural of “consequence” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
divisible by two
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
excogitateverb
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
flawnounUS /flɔː/
an imperfection in an object or machine
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
forgeverbUS /fɔːrdʒ/
create by hammering
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
habitualadjectiveUS /həˈbɪtʃuːəl/
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
immortalitynounUS /ˌɪmɔːrˈtælɪti/
the quality or state of being immortal
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
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 He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
a particular point in time
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
momentarilyadverbUS /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/
for an instant or moment
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
on one occasion
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
policynounUS /ˈpɑːləsi/
a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
recognitionnounUS /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/
the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
precisely, exactly
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
a person, without saying who
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
stone-still
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
tremendouslyadverbUS /trəˈmendəsli/
extremely
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
warinessnounUS /ˈwerinɪs/
the trait of being cautious and watchful
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
in or at the place that
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
