used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
abackadverbUS /əˈbæk/
having the wind against the forward side of the sails
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It had crouched as though for a spring, but now it hesitated.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The wailing cry had a strange and instant effect upon the beast.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
Bomba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It had crouched as though for a spring, but now it hesitated.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading It had crouched as though for a spring, but now it hesitated.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The wailing cry had a strange and instant effect upon the beast.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
discordantadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɔːrdənt/
not in agreement or harmony
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
dronedverbUS /droʊnd/
past form of “drone” — make a monotonous low dull sound
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The wailing cry had a strange and instant effect upon the beast.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading It had never seen a human with a gleaming mouth like that.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The wailing cry had a strange and instant effect upon the beast.
harmonicanounUS /hɑːrˈmɑːnɪkə/
a small rectangular free-reed instrument having a row of free reeds set back in air holes and played by blowing into the desired hole
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading It had crouched as though for a spring, but now it hesitated.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading It had never seen a human with a gleaming mouth like that.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The wailing cry had a strange and instant effect upon the beast.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had crouched as though for a spring, but now it hesitated.
jaguarnounUS /ˈdʒæɡwɑːr/
a large spotted feline of tropical America similar to the leopard; in some classifications considered a member of the genus Felis
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It had never seen a human with a gleaming mouth like that.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
a particular point in time
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It had never seen a human with a gleaming mouth like that.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
a brief written record
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It had crouched as though for a spring, but now it hesitated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
organnounUS /ˈɔːrɡən/
a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It had never seen a human with a gleaming mouth like that.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
the season of growth
From this reading It had crouched as though for a spring, but now it hesitated.
not in physical motion
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
move an implement through
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The wailing cry had a strange and instant effect upon the beast.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It had crouched as though for a spring, but now it hesitated.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The wailing cry had a strange and instant effect upon the beast.
wailingnounUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
loud cries made while weeping
From this reading The wailing cry had a strange and instant effect upon the beast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE For a moment Bomba was so taken aback by the sight of the jaguar that he did not stir.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading His harmonica was still between his lips, and the sudden exclamation that was forced from him droned through the mouth organ in a weird, discordant note.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It had never seen a human with a gleaming mouth like that.
