used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
babbleverbUS /ˈbæbəl/
utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
bearersnounUS /ˈberərz/
plural of “bearer” — someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
BiffnounUS /bɪf/
(boxing) a blow with the fist
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
chatterverbUS /ˈtʃætər/
click repeatedly or uncontrollably
From this reading Out of their excited chatter, Biff could distinguish the words:
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Out of their excited chatter, Biff could distinguish the words:
damagenounUS /ˈdæmədʒ/
the occurrence of a change for the worse
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading Out of their excited chatter, Biff could distinguish the words:
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Out of their excited chatter, Biff could distinguish the words:
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Macu here!
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
Macu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Macu here!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Out of their excited chatter, Biff could distinguish the words:
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Out of their excited chatter, Biff could distinguish the words:
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
safarinounUS /səˈfɑːri/
an overland journey by hunters (especially in Africa)
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
shiedverbUS /ʃaɪd/
inflected form of “shy” — start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been done.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Out of their excited chatter, Biff could distinguish the words:
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
very small
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and ready to attack them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from which the safari had come.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Out of their excited chatter, Biff could distinguish the words:
