used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
(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 "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "This is as good a place as any," he told them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "This is as good a place as any," he told them.
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
captorsnounUS /ˈkæptərz/
plural of “captor” — a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
CurlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrli/
(of hair) having curls or waves
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
CursingverbUS /ˈkɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “curse” — utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
start firing a weapon
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
brought together in one place
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "This is as good a place as any," he told them.
grumblingnounUS /ˈɡrʌmbəlɪŋ/
a loud low dull continuous noise
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "This is as good a place as any," he told them.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This is as good a place as any," he told them.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
maudlinadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːdlɪn/
effusively or insincerely emotional
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
the force of workers available
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
not any; not one
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "This is as good a place as any," he told them.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
ReynoldsnounUS /ˈrenəldz/
English portrait painter and first president of the Royal Academy (1723-1792)
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
in the near future
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "This is as good a place as any," he told them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This is as good a place as any," he told them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HELP FROM THE HILLS After they had stumbled on for about fifteen minutes Curly called a halt, and ordered the men to build a fire.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "This is as good a place as any," he told them.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
precisely as stated
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Cursing and grumbling in a maudlin manner, several of the men gathered a number of sticks, and soon a fire was started.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading As the flames shot up Reynolds could see plainly the faces of his captors, and as he watched them his prospects did not seem very bright.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "No one will bother us here to-night, an' that's all we care."
