used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
(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 Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
from appearances alone
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
availedverbUS /əˈveɪld/
past form of “avail” — use to one's advantage
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
DrippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading Human Heads Still Dripping!
eaglenounUS /ˈiːɡəl/
any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
half-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Human Heads Still Dripping!
heavieradjectiveUS /ˈheviər/
comparative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
HumanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Human Heads Still Dripping!
huntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
little-knownadjective
unknown to most people
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
resemblingverbUS /rɪˈzembəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
scientistsnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪsts/
plural of “scientist” — a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
sightsnounUS /saɪts/
an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
not in physical motion
From this reading Human Heads Still Dripping!
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
tapirnoun
large inoffensive chiefly nocturnal ungulate of tropical America and southeast Asia having a heavy body and fleshy snout
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
precisely as stated
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sight that Bob beheld was one that few hunters and scientists have the opportunity of seeing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Not thirty feet in the air a bird resembling an eagle was carrying a half-grown tapir with apparently perfect ease, although the tapir was three times heavier than itself.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
wondersnounUS /ˈwʌndərz/
plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading Strange sights were common enough in all little-known lands, but this was indeed a wonder of wonders.
writhingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪðɪŋ/
moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
From this reading The tapir was very much alive, as indicated by its writhing movements, but these availed it nothing.
