used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him must be a dog.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost at the same instant the boy heard footsteps approaching.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Almost at the same instant the boy heard footsteps approaching.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Almost at the same instant the boy heard footsteps approaching.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
a youthful male person
From this reading Almost at the same instant the boy heard footsteps approaching.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
certaintynounUS /ˈsɜːrtənti/
the state of being certain
From this reading He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
convulsiveadjectiveUS /kənˈvʌlsɪv/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
someone who is a detective
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him must be a dog.
earthlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrθli/
of or belonging to or characteristic of this earth as distinguished from heaven
From this reading He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him must be a dog.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Almost at the same instant the boy heard footsteps approaching.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Almost at the same instant the boy heard footsteps approaching.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him must be a dog.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
provoking horror
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Almost at the same instant the boy heard footsteps approaching.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
lickingnounUS /ˈlɪkɪŋ/
an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him must be a dog.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him must be a dog.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
picuasus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Almost at the same instant the boy heard footsteps approaching.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/
shake, as from cold
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
snoutnounUS /snaʊt/
a long projecting or anterior elongation of an animal's head; especially the nose
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him must be a dog.
required or under orders
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him must be a dog.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
arousing affect
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
communicated in words
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
Vincey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
at the time that
From this reading When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive shudder ran over his body.
whineverbUS /waɪn/
move with a whining sound
From this reading But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began licking his face.
which person or people
From this reading Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him must be a dog.
