used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
(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 What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
any person at all
From this reading He had no idea that anyone was following him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
astoundedadjectiveUS /əˈstaʊndɪd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The astounded Polter was taken wholly by surprise.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
Babs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
bouldersnounUS /ˈboʊldərz/
plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The astounded Polter was taken wholly by surprise.
cavesnounUS /keɪvz/
plural of “cave” — a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
cragsnounUS /kræɡz/
plural of “crag” — a steep rugged rock or cliff
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
crater-holes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading He had no idea that anyone was following him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had no idea that anyone was following him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had no idea that anyone was following him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had no idea that anyone was following him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
humansnounUS /ˈhjuːmənz/
all of the living human inhabitants of the earth
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had no idea that anyone was following him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
insect-size
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
not any; not one
From this reading He had no idea that anyone was following him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
pittedadjectiveUS /ˈpɪtɪd/
pitted with cell-like cavities (as a honeycomb)
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
pock-marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
Polter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The astounded Polter was taken wholly by surprise.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
ridgedadjectiveUS /rɪdʒd/
having a ridge or shaped like a ridge or suggesting the keel of a ship
From this reading The ground was littered with crags and boulders; it was ridged and pitted, pock-marked, with tiny crater-holes and caves.
rock-strewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
cut with a saw
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
scamperingverbUS /ˈskæmpərɪŋ/
-ing form of “scamper” — to move about or proceed hurriedly
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
scrambledadjectiveUS /ˈskræmbəld/
thrown together in a disorderly fashion
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The astounded Polter was taken wholly by surprise.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The astounded Polter was taken wholly by surprise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had no idea that anyone was following him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The astounded Polter was taken wholly by surprise.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
very small
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The astounded Polter was taken wholly by surprise.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The astounded Polter was taken wholly by surprise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He thought he was alone with tiny Babs in this rock-strewn metal desert.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading What he saw as he scrambled to his feet were four insect-size humans, two of them at a distance, and two within reach of him, and all of them scampering in different directions.
