used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
abundancenounUS /əˈbʌndəns/
the property of a more than adequate quantity or supply
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
matters of personal concern
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
appetizingadjectiveUS /ˈæpɪtaɪzɪŋ/
appealing to or stimulating the appetite especially in appearance or aroma
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
ARTauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
brought into existence
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
confidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/
having or marked by confidence or assurance
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
CookingnounUS /ˈkʊkɪŋ/
the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
the first light of day
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
distendedverbUS /dɪˈstendɪd/
past form of “distend” — become wider
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
enabledverbUS /eˈneɪbəld/
past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
fire-cave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
huntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
indigestibleadjective
digested with difficulty
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
infantsnounUS /ˈɪnfənts/
plural of “infant” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
INVENTIONnounUS /ˌɪnˈvenʃən/
the creation of something in the mind
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
for more time
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
the force of workers available
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
mortalitynounUS /mɔːrˈtæləti/
the quality or state of being mortal
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
not any; not one
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
nourishingadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrɪʃɪŋ/
of or providing nourishment
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
get by special effort
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
settlementnounUS /ˈsetəlmənt/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
smoothlyadverbUS /ˈsmuːðli/
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
in the near future
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
stomachsnounUS /ˈstʌməks/
plural of “stomach” — an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
teemingadjectiveUS /ˈtiːmɪŋ/
abundantly filled with especially living things
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DAWN OF INVENTION, ART, MARRIAGE, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT Affairs at the settlement near the fire-cave now moved along smoothly.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
unwieldyadjectiveUS /ənˈwiːldi/
difficult to use or handle or manage because of size or weight or shape
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
the act of using
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
vegetablesnounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəlz/
plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Made confident by the use of fire and superior weapons, the men now walked fully erect and wandered through the forest with little fear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Cooking made both the flesh and vegetables more nourishing as well as more appetizing, and soon the enormous stomachs, no longer continually distended with raw and indigestible food, became reduced in size and their bodies less unwieldy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As their supply of nourishing food increased, more children were born than before, and the mortality among infants was greatly reduced.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Their new weapons enabled the hunters to secure abundance of food in a country teeming with animal life, now that they dared attack the larger animals.
