used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED.
anew
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
exhale hard
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
butt-end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
captorsnounUS /ˈkæptərz/
plural of “captor” — a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
clumsinessnounUS /ˈklʌmzinəs/
unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
CossacksnounUS /ˈkɑːsæks/
plural of “cossack” — a member of a Slavic people living in southern European Russia and Ukraine and adjacent parts of Asia and noted for their horsemanship and military skill; they formed an elite cavalry corps in czarist Russia
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
foremostadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmoʊst/
ranking above all others
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
highest in quality
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
conformity or harmony
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
lancenounUS /læns/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
on one occasion
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
poniesnounUS /ˈpoʊniz/
plural of “pony” — a range horse of the western United States
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
in the near future
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
a strong line
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
shaggyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæɡi/
used of hair; thick and poorly groomed
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
bound or secured closely
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
two times
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Having his hands tied behind him, Jack experienced the greatest difficulty in keeping up with his captors.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once or twice he slipped, but was jerked up again by the rope round his neck, receiving a blow or two from the butt-end of a lance for his clumsiness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Presently they came to the banks of a river, into which the foremost riders at once plunged.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The Cossacks were thoroughly familiar with the country, and despite the darkness urged their shaggy ponies forward without any hesitation.
