used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
anew
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
Bomba's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
ceaseverbUS /siːs/
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading There was not one chance in a hundred that the beast would stay outside for long.
collectverbUS /kəˈlekt/
get or gather together
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
dennounUS /den/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
ten 10s
From this reading There was not one chance in a hundred that the beast would stay outside for long.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading There was not one chance in a hundred that the beast would stay outside for long.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not one chance in a hundred that the beast would stay outside for long.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now he realized that he was trapped.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was not one chance in a hundred that the beast would stay outside for long.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading There was not one chance in a hundred that the beast would stay outside for long.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Now he realized that he was trapped.
cut with a saw
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
SIEGEnounUS /siːdʒ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading There was not one chance in a hundred that the beast would stay outside for long.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not one chance in a hundred that the beast would stay outside for long.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SIEGE OF TERROR For a few moments Bomba’s heart seemed to cease beating.
trappedadjectiveUS /træpt/
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading Now he realized that he was trapped.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now he realized that he was trapped.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
at the time that
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Down he went again behind his barrier, while he tried to collect his thoughts in the presence of this new peril.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The thought that this might be the den of a wild beast had occurred to him when he first saw the mouth of the cave, but it had been crowded out by his desperate need of escaping from his human enemies.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was not one chance in a hundred that the beast would stay outside for long.
