used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading But it was neither headland nor tree that caught Jerry's attention and caused the gasp of dismay.
barrenadjectiveUS /ˈbærən/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
fearless and daring
From this reading Standing there, bold and menacing, looking like a giant against the queer light, was a man.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was neither headland nor tree that caught Jerry's attention and caused the gasp of dismay.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading But it was neither headland nor tree that caught Jerry's attention and caused the gasp of dismay.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
CLEWnoun
a ball of yarn or cord or thread
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
the first light of day
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading But it was neither headland nor tree that caught Jerry's attention and caused the gasp of dismay.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
freaknounUS /friːk/
a person or animal that is markedly unusual or deformed
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading But it was neither headland nor tree that caught Jerry's attention and caused the gasp of dismay.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Standing there, bold and menacing, looking like a giant against the queer light, was a man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
headlandnoun
a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was neither headland nor tree that caught Jerry's attention and caused the gasp of dismay.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
Jerry'snounUS /ˈdʒeriz/
possessive form of “jerry” — offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading But it was neither headland nor tree that caught Jerry's attention and caused the gasp of dismay.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Standing there, bold and menacing, looking like a giant against the queer light, was a man.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Standing there, bold and menacing, looking like a giant against the queer light, was a man.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
low-hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Standing there, bold and menacing, looking like a giant against the queer light, was a man.
menacingadjectiveUS /ˈmenəsɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Standing there, bold and menacing, looking like a giant against the queer light, was a man.
mist-hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading But it was neither headland nor tree that caught Jerry's attention and caused the gasp of dismay.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But it was neither headland nor tree that caught Jerry's attention and caused the gasp of dismay.
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Standing there, bold and menacing, looking like a giant against the queer light, was a man.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
except for; apart from
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
having a supporting base
From this reading Standing there, bold and menacing, looking like a giant against the queer light, was a man.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
streaknounUS /striːk/
an unbroken series of events
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Against that patch of brightness the northern headland of Lost Island loomed up high and barren save for its one tall tree.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading A STARTLING CLEW There was a streak of light in the western sky, whether caused by the low-hanging, mist-hidden moon or a freak reflection of the coming dawn.
which person or people
From this reading Whether it was the same one who had hailed them earlier in the morning, the boys could not of course know.
