used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
(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 He was quickly beyond all chance of being captured.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT BAY.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading AT BAY.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He was quickly beyond all chance of being captured.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He was quickly beyond all chance of being captured.
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
the act of burning something
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading He was quickly beyond all chance of being captured.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He was quickly beyond all chance of being captured.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
set up or found
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
hovelnounUS /ˈhʌvəl/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
huntedadjectiveUS /ˈhʌntəd/
reflecting the fear or terror of one who is hunted
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
inaccessibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsesəbəl/
capable of being reached only with great difficulty or not at all
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
lairnounUS /ler/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
ledgesnounUS /ˈledʒɪz/
plural of “ledge” — a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
Martino
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
many times at short intervals
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
precipitousadjectiveUS /prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
done with very great haste and without due deliberation
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
with speed
From this reading He was quickly beyond all chance of being captured.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
stepping-stones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
vantagenounUS /ˈvæntədʒ/
place or situation affording some advantage (especially a comprehensive view or commanding perspective)
From this reading The precipitous rocks had ledges and stepping-stones familiar to him, and his naked feet took firm hold on every point of vantage ground.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was quickly beyond all chance of being captured.
at the time that
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
in or at the place that
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading When Martino escaped from the burning hovel, he fled like a wild beast hunted by enemies.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading In his boyhood he had often taken refuge in an almost inaccessible cavern, which he had found for himself, and where he could hide like a wolf in its lair.
