used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
arraynounUS /ərˈeɪ/
an orderly arrangement
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
in a state of sleep
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
availverbUS /əˈveɪl/
use to one's advantage
From this reading He knew that it would avail little except perhaps to wound.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
Bomba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Despairingly, Bomba felt for his machete.
Bomba's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
brutenounUS /bruːt/
a cruelly rapacious person
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
caymannounUS /ˈkeɪmən/
a semiaquatic reptile of Central and South America that resembles an alligator but has a more heavily armored belly
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
Despairinglyadverb
with desperation
From this reading Despairingly, Bomba felt for his machete.
dispelledverbUS /dɪˈspeld/
inflected form of “dispel” — force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
displayingverbUS /dɪˈspleɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
apart from; not including
From this reading He knew that it would avail little except perhaps to wound.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Despairingly, Bomba felt for his machete.
fieryadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪəri/
characterized by intense emotion
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew that it would avail little except perhaps to wound.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
provoking horror
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He knew that it would avail little except perhaps to wound.
JAWSnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew that it would avail little except perhaps to wound.
a boy or man
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He knew that it would avail little except perhaps to wound.
machetenounUS /məˈʃetiː/
a large heavy knife used in Central and South America as a weapon or for cutting vegetation
From this reading Despairingly, Bomba felt for his machete.
a particular point in time
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
on one occasion
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
perceiveverbUS /pərˈsiːv/
to become aware of through the senses
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
by chance
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
with speed
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
shearsnounUS /ʃiːrz/
large scissors with strong blades
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
snipnounUS /snɪp/
a small piece of anything (especially a piece that has been snipped off)
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading Then the huge mouth opened, displaying the horrible array of teeth that, if they once closed on the lad, would bite him in half as easily as a pair of shears would snip a thread.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TERRIBLE JAWS At sight of the cayman, Bomba’s heart for a moment seemed to stop beating.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A wild hope that perhaps the brute was asleep and would not perceive his presence was quickly dispelled as the lad caught sight of two fiery eyes fixed upon him.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading He knew that it would avail little except perhaps to wound.
