used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/
plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It needed many attempts before the loop caught at the top of one of the bamboos.
bamboos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It needed many attempts before the loop caught at the top of one of the bamboos.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
burntadjectiveUS /bɜːrnt/
ruined by overcooking
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading It needed many attempts before the loop caught at the top of one of the bamboos.
choosingverbUS /ˈtʃuːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
distancesnounUS /ˈdɪstənsəz/
plural of “distance” — the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
enableverbUS /eˈneɪbəl/
render capable or able for some task
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
temporary military shelter
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
knottedadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːtɪd/
tied with a knot
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
loopverbUS /luːp/
move in loops
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading It needed many attempts before the loop caught at the top of one of the bamboos.
Meinik
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
the force of workers available
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading It needed many attempts before the loop caught at the top of one of the bamboos.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
and nothing more
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
palisadenounUS /ˌpælɪˈseɪd/
fortification consisting of a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
postedadjectiveUS /ˈpoʊstɪd/
publicly displayed
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
not used up
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
a strong line
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
sentriesnounUS /ˈsentriz/
plural of “sentry” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
StanleynounUS /ˈstænli/
United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Stanley made a loop at one end; and then knotted it, at distances of about a foot apart, to enable him to climb it more easily.
the upper part of anything
From this reading It needed many attempts before the loop caught at the top of one of the bamboos.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then Stanley moved round to the other side of the palisade and, choosing a spot immediately behind the hut where the sentries were posted, threw up the rope.
in or at the place that
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Stanley remained where he was until Meinik returned, in half an hour, with the rope.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Then they waited until the guard fire burnt down low, and most of the men went off into a hut a few yards distant, three only remaining talking before the fire.
