used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RATTLESNAKES AND RIFLE-SHOTS.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "It was a snake, wasn't it?" asked Worth.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
Carey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
forkedadjectiveUS /fɔːrkt/
resembling a fork; divided or separated into two branches
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
gladenounUS /ɡleɪd/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
a quick look
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
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 boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It was a snake, wasn't it?" asked Worth.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
locustnounUS /ˈloʊkəst/
migratory grasshoppers of warm regions having short antennae
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
RATTLESNAKESnounUS /ˈrætəlsneɪks/
plural of “rattlesnake” — pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken
From this reading RATTLESNAKES AND RIFLE-SHOTS.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Worse than that," replied the Lieutenant.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
RIFLE-SHOTS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RATTLESNAKES AND RIFLE-SHOTS.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading "It was a snake, wasn't it?" asked Worth.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Worse than that," replied the Lieutenant.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Worse than that," replied the Lieutenant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
thrustingnounUS /ˈθrʌstɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
viciouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪʃəsli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It was a snake, wasn't it?" asked Worth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
at the time that
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
whir-r-r-r
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
which person or people
From this reading While they were returning through the grassy glade, the Lieutenant, who was a few steps in advance, suddenly stopped and sprang back.
wicked-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys barely caught a glimpse of a flat, wicked-looking head, from which a forked tongue was viciously thrusting, and heard a sound like the whir-r-r-r of an immense locust, when Lieutenant Carey fired, and the head disappeared in the tall grass.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading "Worse than that," replied the Lieutenant.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading "It was a snake, wasn't it?" asked Worth.
