used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He gasped for breath.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
contemptuouslyadverbUS /kənˈtemptʃwəsli/
without respect; in a disdainful manner
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
determineverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmən/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
one or the other of two
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
entanglingverbUS /ɪnˈtæŋlɪŋ/
-ing form of “entangle” — entrap
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He gasped for breath.
set up or found
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading He gasped for breath.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
identitynounUS /aɪˈdentɪtiː/
the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
Jimmie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
and nothing more
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
a boy or man
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
a particular point in time
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
on one occasion
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
in the near future
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
referringverbUS /rɪˈfɜːrɪŋ/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
smotheringadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərɪŋ/
causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
StrugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
push forcefully
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
weighingnounUS /ˈweɪɪŋ/
careful consideration
From this reading Struggling to free himself from the entangling mass of cloth that seemed to be smothering and weighing him down, the lad presently found an opening, through which he thrust his head.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A GREAT SURPRISE From the tone in which the remark was made Jimmie understood that the speaker was referring contemptuously to either himself or Dave.
which person or people
From this reading He thought that he recognized the voice, but could not at once determine the identity of the one who made the statement.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading Just at the moment there appeared to be a world of canvas and ropes wound about his head and body.
