used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.
baskingverbUS /ˈbæskɪŋ/
-ing form of “bask” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He would wish to be alone with his grief for a time.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
exhale hard
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
dalenounUS /deɪl/
an open river valley (in a hilly area)
From this reading The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
exploreverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːr/
inquire into
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
a boy or man
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
Ferralti
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading He would wish to be alone with his grief for a time.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
lightenverbUS /ˈlaɪtən/
make more cheerful
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
Merrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
a form of address for a man
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
information about recent and important events
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
not any; not one
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
parent'snounUS /ˈperənts/
possessive form of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He would wish to be alone with his grief for a time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading By and by Mr. Merrick intended to question his fellow prisoner and try to find out something of his history.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
precisely as stated
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
walkingsticknoun
any of various mostly tropical insects having long twiglike bodies
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION And now Uncle John, finding himself left alone, took his walkingstick and started out to explore the valley.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dale was very beautiful as it lay basking in the afternoon sun.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading He would wish to be alone with his grief for a time.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He would wish to be alone with his grief for a time.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would wish to be alone with his grief for a time.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He felt very sorry for young Ferralti, but believed his sympathy could in no way lighten the blow caused by the abrupt news of his parent's death.
