used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
at or in the front
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
(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 "Now where did you see all this?" asked Max.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Now where did you see all this?" asked Max.
Bandy-legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
clumpnounUS /klʌmp/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
coiledadjectiveUS /kɔɪld/
curled or wound (especially in concentric rings or spirals)
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Now where did you see all this?" asked Max.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Max instantly dropped his sack of shellfish.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
flourishedverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃt/
past form of “flourish” — grow vigorously
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading MAX PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
hickorynounUS /ˈhɪkəri/
valuable tough heavy hardwood from various hickory trees
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Max instantly dropped his sack of shellfish.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Max instantly dropped his sack of shellfish.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
MAXnounUS /mæks/
street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate
From this reading MAX PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now where did you see all this?" asked Max.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Max instantly dropped his sack of shellfish.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
pinchverbUS /pɪntʃ/
squeeze tightly between the fingers
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
PLAYSnounUS /pleɪz/
plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading MAX PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
pokingnounUS /ˈpoʊkɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
sacknounUS /sæk/
a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
From this reading Max instantly dropped his sack of shellfish.
SAMARITANnounUS /səˈmerɪtən/
a member of the people inhabiting Samaria in biblical times
From this reading MAX PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Now where did you see all this?" asked Max.
shellfishnounUS /ˈʃelfɪʃ/
meat of edible aquatic invertebrate with a shell (especially a mollusk or crustacean)
From this reading Max instantly dropped his sack of shellfish.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
dependable
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAX PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Now where did you see all this?" asked Max.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
in or at the place that
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might lie coiled up in waiting.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Now where did you see all this?" asked Max.
