used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was almost too much to bear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
have
From this reading It was almost too much to bear.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
a youthful male person
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The work of hours—completely destroyed!
CubsnounUS /kʌbz/
plural of “cub” — an awkward and inexperienced youth
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading The work of hours—completely destroyed!
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
half-sob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
Hatfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
hikenounUS /haɪk/
a long walk usually for exercise or pleasure
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The work of hours—completely destroyed!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was almost too much to bear.
meaninglessadjectiveUS /ˈmiːnɪŋləs/
having no meaning or direction or purpose
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
a form of address for a man
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was almost too much to bear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
with speed
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading As he stood staring at the meaningless mess of mixed color, the boy heard footsteps behind him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A half-sob escaped Dan as he beheld the ruin of the beautiful sand painting.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was almost too much to bear.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was almost too much to bear.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned quickly to see that it was Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs returning from their hike to the ravine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was almost too much to bear.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The work of hours—completely destroyed!
