used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
adjustedadjectiveUS /əˈdʒʌstɪd/
altered to accommodate to certain requirements or bring into a proper relation
From this reading His ladder was also badly caught and stubbornly refused to be adjusted.
(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 One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
in addition
From this reading His ladder was also badly caught and stubbornly refused to be adjusted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His ladder was also badly caught and stubbornly refused to be adjusted.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading His ladder was also badly caught and stubbornly refused to be adjusted.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His ladder was also badly caught and stubbornly refused to be adjusted.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading His ladder was also badly caught and stubbornly refused to be adjusted.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
creatingverbUS /kriˈeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
DespiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
disturbancenounUS /dɪˈstɜːrbəns/
activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
move gently or carefully
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
Grenville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
of the present time and place
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading His ladder was also badly caught and stubbornly refused to be adjusted.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading His ladder was also badly caught and stubbornly refused to be adjusted.
regainingnounUS /rɪˈɡeɪnɪŋ/
getting something back again
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
rustlingnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
successive (without a break)
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
stubbornlyadverbUS /ˈstʌbərnli/
in a stubborn unregenerate manner
From this reading His ladder was also badly caught and stubbornly refused to be adjusted.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
twigsnounUS /twɪɡz/
plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
uneventfuladjectiveUS /ˌʌniˈventfəl/
marked by no noteworthy or significant events
From this reading He remained perfectly silent, ready for immediate retreat, regaining his breath and straining his ears for the slightest sound, for a long, uneventful minute.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
at the time that
From this reading One violent rustling of a heavy limb he caused when it finally slipped straight down, with his feet all but striking on the ground.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
in the company of; together with
From this reading DEATH AS A BROTHER Despite the ease with which, in theory, he expected to descend to the ground, Grenville was fully ten minutes escaping from the tree.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A number of twigs that he could not have passed without creating a disturbance he cut away with his knife.
