used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
antnounUS /ænt/
social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
antsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “ant” — social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
terminate
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
cuirassnoun
medieval body armor that covers the chest and back
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading The terrible head of the Hercules still held in his jaws two of his deadly enemies.
defendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈfendɪŋ/
attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
increase twofold
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
fiercestadjectiveUS /ˈfɪrsəst/
superlative of “fierce” — marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
made afraid
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
a young female
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
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 terrible head of the Hercules still held in his jaws two of his deadly enemies.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The terrible head of the Hercules still held in his jaws two of his deadly enemies.
HerculesnounUS /ˈhɜːrkjəliːz/
(classical mythology) a hero noted for his strength; performed 12 immense labors to gain immortality
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
jawsnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading The terrible head of the Hercules still held in his jaws two of his deadly enemies.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
immediately past
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
staying power
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
odornounUS /ˈoʊdər/
any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
poisonverbUS /ˈpɔɪzən/
spoil as if by poison
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
in the near future
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
not in physical motion
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The terrible head of the Hercules still held in his jaws two of his deadly enemies.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
precisely as stated
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
which person or people
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The penetrating odor reached the frightened little girl; presently she perceived a very large ant, nearly six lines in length, very black, very shining, doubtless a Hercules who was defending himself against a whole army.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His enemies fastened themselves on to each of his legs, but he still fought; a brown ant jumped upon his back and tried to break his brilliant cuirass; another, with his body bent double, covered him with poison.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading At last, three of the fiercest of the ants worked with their sharp teeth upon the middle of his body, and at last cut him in two.
