used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading CAUGHT The two sailors each had the same thought.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading CAUGHT The two sailors each had the same thought.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading “Lay low and go easy,” whispered Will to Sam.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Lay low and go easy,” whispered Will to Sam.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CAUGHT The two sailors each had the same thought.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I’ll take a look out and see if it’s him.”
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take a look out and see if it’s him.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll take a look out and see if it’s him.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “Lay low and go easy,” whispered Will to Sam.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “I’ll take a look out and see if it’s him.”
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading “Lay low and go easy,” whispered Will to Sam.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
on one occasion
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “I’ll take a look out and see if it’s him.”
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
a human being
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading CAUGHT The two sailors each had the same thought.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
Identical; not different.
From this reading CAUGHT The two sailors each had the same thought.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I’ll take a look out and see if it’s him.”
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
carry out
From this reading “I’ll take a look out and see if it’s him.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAUGHT The two sailors each had the same thought.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading CAUGHT The two sailors each had the same thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading CAUGHT The two sailors each had the same thought.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
at the time that
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading “Lay low and go easy,” whispered Will to Sam.
which person or people
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading They wanted to catch this strange man, whether or not he was really wild.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading So when Will and Sam, who were inside the queer little wooden house, heard that noise outside they at once thought they had a chance to catch the wild man, if it should prove to be that person who had caused the sound.
