used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a tired sigh, he settled back, clutching convulsively at the sand.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
arouseverbUS /ərˈaʊz/
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
From this reading Though the Cubs tried twice to arouse him, he did not respond.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading With a tired sigh, he settled back, clutching convulsively at the sand.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
a youthful male person
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
BradnounUS /bræd/
a small nail
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading With a tired sigh, he settled back, clutching convulsively at the sand.
convulsivelyadverb
with convulsions, in a convulsive way
From this reading With a tired sigh, he settled back, clutching convulsively at the sand.
CubsnounUS /kʌbz/
plural of “cub” — an awkward and inexperienced youth
From this reading Though the Cubs tried twice to arouse him, he did not respond.
curly-hairedadjective
covered with curly hair
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Though the Cubs tried twice to arouse him, he did not respond.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Fear gleamed momentarily in his steel-gray eyes, and then he seemed to relax.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Fear gleamed momentarily in his steel-gray eyes, and then he seemed to relax.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Fear gleamed momentarily in his steel-gray eyes, and then he seemed to relax.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fear gleamed momentarily in his steel-gray eyes, and then he seemed to relax.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
momentarilyadverbUS /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/
for an instant or moment
From this reading Fear gleamed momentarily in his steel-gray eyes, and then he seemed to relax.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Though the Cubs tried twice to arouse him, he did not respond.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
relaxverbUS /rɪˈlæks/
become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
From this reading Fear gleamed momentarily in his steel-gray eyes, and then he seemed to relax.
respondverbUS /rɪˈspɑːnd/
show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading Though the Cubs tried twice to arouse him, he did not respond.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Fear gleamed momentarily in his steel-gray eyes, and then he seemed to relax.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading With a tired sigh, he settled back, clutching convulsively at the sand.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading With a tired sigh, he settled back, clutching convulsively at the sand.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
steel-gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fear gleamed momentarily in his steel-gray eyes, and then he seemed to relax.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Fear gleamed momentarily in his steel-gray eyes, and then he seemed to relax.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though the Cubs tried twice to arouse him, he did not respond.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading With a tired sigh, he settled back, clutching convulsively at the sand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Though the Cubs tried twice to arouse him, he did not respond.
two times
From this reading Though the Cubs tried twice to arouse him, he did not respond.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
which person or people
From this reading The dark, curly-haired boy who lay on the sand stirred slightly as Dan and Brad bent down to shake his arm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Seeing their faces above him, he pulled himself up on an elbow, staring at them with blank expression.
