used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
eagerly desirous
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Hunters know that the smaller breeds of lions are the most dangerous.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Robert Gregory was not a large man--he barely reached his wife’s good inches.
breedsnounUS /briːdz/
plural of “breed” — a special variety of domesticated animals within a species
From this reading Hunters know that the smaller breeds of lions are the most dangerous.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
a person who is in charge
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Hunters know that the smaller breeds of lions are the most dangerous.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
opinion or judgment
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Robert Gregory was not a large man--he barely reached his wife’s good inches.
GregorynounUS /ˈɡreɡəri/
(Roman Catholic Church) a church father known for his constant fight against perceived heresies; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-391)
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
HuntersnounUS /ˈhʌntərz/
plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game
From this reading Hunters know that the smaller breeds of lions are the most dangerous.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Robert Gregory was not a large man--he barely reached his wife’s good inches.
king-beast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Hunters know that the smaller breeds of lions are the most dangerous.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Robert Gregory was not a large man--he barely reached his wife’s good inches.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
lionsnounUS /ˈlaɪənz/
plural of “lion” — large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading Hunters know that the smaller breeds of lions are the most dangerous.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Robert Gregory was not a large man--he barely reached his wife’s good inches.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Hunters know that the smaller breeds of lions are the most dangerous.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
MurraynounUS /ˈmɜːri/
British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Robert Gregory was not a large man--he barely reached his wife’s good inches.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
perchnounUS /pɜːrtʃ/
support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
with low volume
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Robert Gregory was not a large man--he barely reached his wife’s good inches.
respectfullyadverbUS /rɪˈspektfəli/
in a respectful manner
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading Robert Gregory was not a large man--he barely reached his wife’s good inches.
saggingadjectiveUS /ˈsæɡɪŋ/
hanging down (as from exhaustion or weakness)
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading Hunters know that the smaller breeds of lions are the most dangerous.
not in physical motion
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
SUSPENSEnounUS /səˈspens/
apprehension about what is going to happen
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
unsparingadjectiveUS /ənˈsperɪŋ/
very generous
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading SUSPENSE The three sat brooding in silence for several minutes, until one of the native clerks came in and held the door open respectfully.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That meant that the chief was coming, and Murray slid off his perch and slipped quietly out as Gregory came slowly in.
weakenedadjectiveUS /ˈwiːkənd/
impaired by diminution
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Robert Gregory was not a large man--he barely reached his wife’s good inches.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the unsparing afternoon light he looked a broken lion--an old king-beast with sagging skin and weakened mouth, but with fierce fight still in his tired and anxious eyes.
