used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
any thing at all
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
Bert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
concentrationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsənˈtreɪʃən/
the strength of a solution; number of molecules of a substance in a given volume
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
detectverbUS /dɪˈtekt/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
someone who is a detective
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
the act of retaining something
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
lurkingverbUS /ˈlɜːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
engage in
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
motionedverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənd/
past form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
hard to endure
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
precisely as stated
From this reading For several seconds he stood the very picture of attention and concentration, and then turned to them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
at the time that
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading This they did, almost holding their breath the while, trying to make out what Bert had seen or heard.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
which person or people
From this reading They had not proceeded far in this manner when Bert, who was slightly in the lead, motioned with his hand in back of him for them to stop.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
WOLVESnounUS /wʊlvz/
plural of “wolf” — any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading THE HUNTING WOLVES They advanced more cautiously now, with every sense alert to detect the first sign of any lurking savage.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What is it, Bert, do you see anything?" inquired Dick, in a subdued but tense whisper.
