used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/
having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNSEEN LISTENER Bert was lost.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
Bert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNSEEN LISTENER Bert was lost.
blinkingadjectiveUS /ˈblɪŋkɪŋ/
closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
From this reading There was no use blinking the fact.
cardinalnounUS /ˈkɑːrdənəl/
(Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
compassnounUS /ˈkʌmpəs/
navigational instrument for finding directions
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
disconcertingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ/
causing an emotional disturbance
From this reading It was an unusual and disconcerting experience for him.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
divisible by two
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading It was an unusual and disconcerting experience for him.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading There was no use blinking the fact.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was an unusual and disconcerting experience for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
LISTENERnounUS /ˈlɪsənər/
someone who listens attentively
From this reading AN UNSEEN LISTENER Bert was lost.
locationnounUS /loʊˈkeɪʃən/
a point or extent in space
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading AN UNSEEN LISTENER Bert was lost.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no use blinking the fact.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was no use blinking the fact.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no use blinking the fact.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For two hours past this feeling had been growing stronger, and now it had deepened into a conviction.
UNSEENadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading AN UNSEEN LISTENER Bert was lost.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading It was an unusual and disconcerting experience for him.
the act of using
From this reading There was no use blinking the fact.
precisely as stated
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN UNSEEN LISTENER Bert was lost.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading His sense of location was very keen and acute, and, even without a compass, he had been able almost instinctively to distinguish the cardinal points.
