used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
the state of being absent
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
adventurersnounUS /ædˈventʃərərz/
plural of “adventurer” — a person who enjoys taking risks
From this reading The shock of the discovery for a moment unnerved the two young adventurers.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The thing was incredible—almost past belief!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading The thing was incredible—almost past belief!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Darkness enveloped them.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
the act of discovering something
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading Darkness enveloped them.
explorationnounUS /ˌeksplərˈeɪʃən/
to travel for the purpose of discovery
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The shock of the discovery for a moment unnerved the two young adventurers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading The thing was incredible—almost past belief!
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
most important element
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
a particular point in time
From this reading The shock of the discovery for a moment unnerved the two young adventurers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The thing was incredible—almost past belief!
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
a strong line
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
SandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The shock of the discovery for a moment unnerved the two young adventurers.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Darkness enveloped them.
a special situation
From this reading The thing was incredible—almost past belief!
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The shock of the discovery for a moment unnerved the two young adventurers.
unnervedadjectiveUS /ənˈnɜːrvd/
deprived of courage and strength
From this reading The shock of the discovery for a moment unnerved the two young adventurers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The thing was incredible—almost past belief!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Returning to the main shaft, following a tour of exploration through the mine, Dick and Sandy were staggered by the discovery that during their absence some one had removed the rope and had closed the trap.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The stream of light, which had poured through the wide opening in the floor of the cabin, had been cut off.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The shock of the discovery for a moment unnerved the two young adventurers.
