used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
aimingverbUS /ˈeɪmɪŋ/
-ing form of “aim” — point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
Alexis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
ascendingadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
have
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
bruang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
chancesnounUS /ˈtʃænsəz/
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
commencedverbUS /kəˈmenst/
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
deadlieradjectiveUS /ˈdedliər/
comparative of “deadly” — causing or capable of causing death
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
enfeebledverbUS /enˈfiːbəld/
past form of “enfeeble” — make weak
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
frightenverbUS /ˈfraɪtən/
cause fear in
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
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 bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
and nothing more
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
a particular point in time
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
with speed
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
worried and uneasy
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
riflemannounUS /ˈraɪfəlmən/
someone skilled in the use of a rifle
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
swarmedverbUS /swɔːrmd/
past form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The bear, in clutching to one of the limbs, had extended his body outward, and this gave the rifleman the chance of aiming at his head.
up to a particular time
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The bullet must have told: for the bear, instead of ascending higher, was seen hanging down from the limb, as if he was clinging to it with enfeebled strength.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading Almost as rapidly as a cat he swarmed upward; and for a moment the chances of losing him appeared as two to one.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The effect of his shots was to frighten the bruang back up the tree; and at the first report he commenced ascending.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
which person or people
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Alexis, who had been watching the restless movements of his brother, had prepared himself for such an issue; and, waiting till the bruang made a pause just under the branches, he fired his rifle with deadlier aim.
