used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
bulkyadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlki/
of large size for its weight
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
CarsonnounUS /ˈkɑːrsən/
United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964)
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
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 As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
let fall to the ground
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
remove the dust from
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
divisible by two
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
be the source of pain
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
jarredverbUS /dʒɑːrd/
inflected form of “jar” — be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
go away from a place
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
a particular point in time
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
the light of the Moon
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
not any; not one
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
outlawsnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔːz/
plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
cut with a saw
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/
shake, as from cold
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
slackenverbUS /ˈslækən/
become slow or slower
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
spedverbUS /sped/
inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
move hurridly
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
not in physical motion
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
ten-foot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
toenounUS /toʊ/
one of the digits of the foot
From this reading The ten-foot drop to the ground jarred Tad from head to toe but did not really hurt him.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Tad sped onward, cleared the road in a long leap, in order to leave no track in the dust, and plunged into the brush on the farther side.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
trippedverbUS /trɪpt/
inflected form of “trip” — miss a step and fall or nearly fall
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
upturnedadjective
having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The dark wall of leaves closed behind him, and he knew that for the moment at least he was beyond the outlaws’ reach, but he did not slacken speed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
a Caucasian
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As he started to run he tripped over something bulky in the grass and saw with a shudder that it was the body of the man called Carson, still and cold, a ray of moonlight falling on his white, upturned face.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He was up in an instant, and without even a backward glance at the house he made for the trees across the road.
