used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Of course the atmosphere was much cooler than it had been outside.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Of course the atmosphere was much cooler than it had been outside.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
CAVESnounUS /keɪvz/
plural of “cave” — a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading CAVES IN THE MOUNTAIN.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
coolernounUS /ˈkuːlər/
a refrigerator for cooling liquids
From this reading Of course the atmosphere was much cooler than it had been outside.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course the atmosphere was much cooler than it had been outside.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
draughtnounUS /dræft/
a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
flooringnounUS /ˈflɔːrɪŋ/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
only a very short time before
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CAVES IN THE MOUNTAIN.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of course the atmosphere was much cooler than it had been outside.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading CAVES IN THE MOUNTAIN.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Of course the atmosphere was much cooler than it had been outside.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course the atmosphere was much cooler than it had been outside.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Of course the atmosphere was much cooler than it had been outside.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Of course the atmosphere was much cooler than it had been outside.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAVES IN THE MOUNTAIN.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no breeze in the place, but a gentle draught kept the air stirring.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
travelersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
plural of “traveler” — a person who changes location
From this reading Hardly had the travelers gained the center of the first chamber of the cave, when the storm outside burst in all its fury.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
unwholesomeadjective
detrimental to physical or moral well-being
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
at the time that
From this reading The two boys had expected to find the large cave damp and unwholesome, and they were surprised when they learned how dry the flooring and the sides were, and how pure the air was.
