used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
astonishingadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
have
From this reading THE BIG BLACK BEAR.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE BIG BLACK BEAR.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading THE BIG BLACK BEAR.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
clumsinessnounUS /ˈklʌmzinəs/
unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
-ing form of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
take in solid food
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
the act of departing
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
hugverbUS /hʌɡ/
hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
a boy or man
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
engage in
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
menageries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BIG BLACK BEAR.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
untamedadjective
in a natural state; not tamed or domesticated or cultivated
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Joe had never before met a black bear in the open air, but he had seen several in menageries and studied them at a safe distance, and he realized that he was in a perilous position.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Joe did not stand upon the order of his going, but went instantly, running as fast as his tired limbs would permit.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading After him came the bear, and it was astonishing what good time the beast could make considering his size and his general appearance of clumsiness.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The bear looked both untamed and fierce and as if nothing would suit him better than to hug the lad to death and eat him up afterward.
