used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
in actual fact
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another great paw.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
for the reason that
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
crazilyadverbUS /ˈkreɪzəli/
in an insane manner
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
fascinationnounUS /ˌfæsəˈneɪʃən/
the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
flappedverbUS /flæpt/
inflected form of “flap” — move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
flittered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
moving swiftly
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
glaringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlerɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Another great paw.
gyrationsnounUS /dʒaɪˈreɪʃənz/
plural of “gyration” — a single complete turn (axial or orbital)
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
hairyadjectiveUS /ˈheri/
having or covered with hair
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
hindnounUS /haɪnd/
any of several mostly spotted fishes that resemble groupers
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
insanelyadverb
in an insane manner
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
Kodiaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
staying power
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
light-beam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
monkeysnounUS /ˈmʌŋkiz/
plural of “monkey” — any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
night-creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
pallidadjectiveUS /ˈpæləd/
abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
pawverbUS /pɔː/
scrape with the paws
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
pluckedadjectiveUS /plʌkt/
of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
reeledverbUS /riːld/
past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
resistverbUS /rɪˈzɪst/
elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
strangely-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
swatting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
a special situation
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading More things strangely-shaped and pallid like human skin reeled and flapped crazily toward him.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A huge hairy paw reached up into the light-beam and snatched a flying thing out of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The three great Kodiaks were on their hind legs, swatting at creatures which flittered insanely, unable to resist the fascination of the glaring lamp.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Because of their wild gyrations it was impossible to see them in detail, but they were those unpleasant night-creatures which looked like plucked flying monkeys but were actually something quite different.
