used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
alligatornounUS /ˈæləɡeɪtər/
leather made from alligator's hide
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
appalledadjectiveUS /əˈpɔːld/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
astoundedadjectiveUS /əˈstaʊndɪd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
have
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
burialnounUS /ˈberiəl/
the ritual placing of a corpse in a grave
From this reading When the flood receded the alligator had remained in its self-imposed burial place.
placed in a grave
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then he realized what had happened.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Then he realized what had happened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he realized what had happened.
hibernates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
inundatedadjectiveUS /ˈɪnəndeɪtɪd/
covered with water
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
a boy or man
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
a particular point in time
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading When the flood receded the alligator had remained in its self-imposed burial place.
principlenounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Then he realized what had happened.
recededverbUS /rəˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “recede” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading When the flood receded the alligator had remained in its self-imposed burial place.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading When the flood receded the alligator had remained in its self-imposed burial place.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
self-imposedadjective
voluntarily assumed or endured
From this reading When the flood receded the alligator had remained in its self-imposed burial place.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he realized what had happened.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading THE RUSHING RIVER For a moment the lad stood as though turned into stone, astounded and appalled.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then he realized what had happened.
at the time that
From this reading When the flood receded the alligator had remained in its self-imposed burial place.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The alligator, following a custom of its kind, had buried itself in the soft mud, on the same principle that a bear hibernates in winter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Probably a flood some time before had inundated the district and the alligator had come with it.
