used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
Dillon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
of great significance or value
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
a unit of instruction
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
pistolnounUS /ˈpɪstəl/
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders.
having a point
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
situationsnounUS /ˌsɪtʃuːˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “situation” — the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
not in physical motion
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
swiftnessnounUS /ˈswɪftnəs/
a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
male cat
From this reading The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The mountain lion was large and powerful and evidently in full fighting humor.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Now, as he backed against the nearest rock, he drew the weapon and pointed it at the beast.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The mountain lion crouched still lower and the tail of the creature moved from side to side with greater swiftness.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading IN THE MOUNTAIN CAVE Dave had been in perilous situations before, and had learned the important lesson that if he lost his wits all would be lost.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading The youth was armed, carrying a pistol by Tom Dillon's orders.
