used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
attentivenessnounUS /əˈtentɪvnəs/
paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
barkingverbUS /ˈbɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “bark” — speak in an unfriendly tone
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
capering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
craneverbUS /kreɪn/
stretch (the neck) so as to see better
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
crotchnounUS /krɑːtʃ/
the region of the angle formed by the junction of two branches
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
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 At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
earthward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
excitedlyadverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪtədli/
with excitement; in an excited manner
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
fervornounUS /ˈfɜːrvər/
feelings of great warmth and intensity
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
frowzily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
death of a person
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
luridadjectiveUS /ˈlʊrəd/
horrible in fierceness or savagery
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
majesticadjectiveUS /məˈdʒestɪk/
majestic in manner or bearing; superior to mundane matters
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
murderouslyadverb
as if bent on murder
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
poseverbUS /poʊz/
introduce
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
raccoonnounUS /ræˈkuːn/
the fur of the North American racoon
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
free from harm or evil
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
rumpledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌmpəld/
in disarray; extremely disorderly
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
sick-raccoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
slumpingverbUS /ˈslʌmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “slump” — assume a drooping posture or carriage
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
treedadjective
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Instead, he lay at majestic ease, gazing up toward the treed man with grave attentiveness.
UTILITYnounUS /juːˈtɪləti/
a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
From this reading SPEAKING OF UTILITY The man huddled frowzily in the tree crotch, like a rumpled and sick raccoon.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading At the tree foot the big dog wasted neither time nor energy in frantic barking or in capering excitedly about.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then, before slumping back to his sick-raccoon pose, he would look murderously earthward and swear with lurid fervor.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At times he would crane his thin neck and peer about him, but more as if he feared rescue than as though he hoped for it.
