used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was about a yard in length, and the body was strong and thick.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
appendagenounUS /əˈpendɪdʒ/
an external body part that projects from the body
From this reading The short tail was provided with a row of shields and there was a horny appendage at the end.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading It was about a yard in length, and the body was strong and thick.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But even in death the venomous reptile inspired them with horror.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading But even in death the venomous reptile inspired them with horror.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
the act of discovering something
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The short tail was provided with a row of shields and there was a horny appendage at the end.
divisible by two
From this reading But even in death the venomous reptile inspired them with horror.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/
comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
hornyadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrni/
feeling great sexual desire
From this reading The short tail was provided with a row of shields and there was a horny appendage at the end.
intense and profound fear
From this reading But even in death the venomous reptile inspired them with horror.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But even in death the venomous reptile inspired them with horror.
inspectverbUS /ˌɪnˈspekt/
look over carefully
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
inspiredadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈspaɪərd/
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading But even in death the venomous reptile inspired them with horror.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading It was about a yard in length, and the body was strong and thick.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
overtakenverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪkən/
inflected form of “overtake” — catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The short tail was provided with a row of shields and there was a horny appendage at the end.
reptilenounUS /ˈreptaɪl/
any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia including tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, and extinct forms
From this reading But even in death the venomous reptile inspired them with horror.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading The short tail was provided with a row of shields and there was a horny appendage at the end.
shieldsnounUS /ʃiːldz/
plural of “shield” — a protective covering or structure
From this reading The short tail was provided with a row of shields and there was a horny appendage at the end.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The short tail was provided with a row of shields and there was a horny appendage at the end.
shudderedverbUS /ˈʃʌdərd/
past form of “shudder” — shake, as from cold
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It was about a yard in length, and the body was strong and thick.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading The short tail was provided with a row of shields and there was a horny appendage at the end.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The short tail was provided with a row of shields and there was a horny appendage at the end.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading It was about a yard in length, and the body was strong and thick.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
venomousadjectiveUS /ˈvenəməs/
extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom
From this reading But even in death the venomous reptile inspired them with horror.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A GREAT DISCOVERY Now that the snake was certainly beyond the possibility of doing them further harm, the boys could inspect it at their leisure.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Fred shuddered as he looked at him and thought of what might have been if the snake had struck a little harder or had overtaken him in that desperate chase.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But even in death the venomous reptile inspired them with horror.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading It was about a yard in length, and the body was strong and thick.
