used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
ArcticnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/
the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
crumpling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wolf, crumpling over, lay quivering in death.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The wolf, crumpling over, lay quivering in death.
dinningverbUS /ˈdɪnɪŋ/
inflected form of “din” — make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
fangsnounUS /fæŋz/
plural of “fang” — a Bantu language spoken in Cameroon
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
howlverbUS /haʊl/
emit long loud cries
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was too strange to seem real.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
lastedverbUS /ˈlæstəd/
past form of “last” — persist for a specified period of time
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The wolf, crumpling over, lay quivering in death.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
moviesnounUS /ˈmuːviz/
plural of “movie” — a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The wolf, crumpling over, lay quivering in death.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading The wolf, crumpling over, lay quivering in death.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading It was too strange to seem real.
realizingverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “realize” — be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was too strange to seem real.
skullnounUS /skʌl/
the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
slednounUS /sled/
a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
tearingnounUS /ˈterɪŋ/
shedding tears
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was too strange to seem real.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was too strange to seem real.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was too strange to seem real.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
belonging to which person
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading The next instant with the butt of his rifle he crushed the skull of a wolf whose fangs were tearing at the throat of a dog.
wolvesnounUS /wʊlvz/
plural of “wolf” — any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading For a second, as he stood there on the sled, with the big Arctic moon rising above the forest, with the crack of the strange rifle, the roar of dogs and the howl of wolves dinning in his ears, Joe fancied himself acting a part in the movies.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading This lasted but a second; then, realizing that the battle was more than half won but that some of his dogs might be in danger, he sprang from the sled.
