used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
BiffnounUS /bɪf/
(boxing) a blow with the fist
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was still a question.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
emergingadjectiveUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/
coming to maturity
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading That gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was still a question.
flimsyadjectiveUS /ˈflɪmzi/
lacking solidity or strength
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
franticallyadverbUS /ˈfræntəkəli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading That gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was still a question.
the act of giving
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading That gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was still a question.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was still a question.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
Kamuka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
liananounUS /liˈɑːnə/
a woody climbing usually tropical plant
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading That gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was still a question.
mirenounUS /maɪr/
a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
and nothing more
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading That gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was still a question.
quicksandnounUS /ˈkwɪksænd/
a treacherous situation that tends to entrap and destroy
From this reading Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now.
except for; apart from
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
not in physical motion
From this reading Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
the act of using
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
vinenounUS /vaɪn/
a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Biff felt the soft bank giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground, knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend.
in or at the place that
From this reading Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging from the mire, was frantically waving him back.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was still a question.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it would be too flimsy.
