used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
affableadjectiveUS /ˈæfəbəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading He was talkative, affable and even informative.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was talkative, affable and even informative.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
bogverbUS /bɑːɡ/
cause to slow down or get stuck
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
bossnounUS /bɑːs/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading "But the boss is that persistent," the man was saying.
breakdownnounUS /ˈbreɪkdaʊn/
the act of disrupting an established order so it fails to continue
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But the boss is that persistent," the man was saying.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
communicatedverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪtɪd/
past form of “communicate” — transmit information
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
Devlin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
divisible by two
From this reading He was talkative, affable and even informative.
set up or found
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
FrostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was talkative, affable and even informative.
hermitnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
informativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrmətɪv/
tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance
From this reading He was talkative, affable and even informative.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "But the boss is that persistent," the man was saying.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "But the boss is that persistent," the man was saying.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
Nickie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
persistentadjectiveUS /pərˈsɪstənt/
never-ceasing
From this reading "But the boss is that persistent," the man was saying.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading "But the boss is that persistent," the man was saying.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
move stealthily
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
talkativeadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːkətɪv/
full of trivial conversation
From this reading He was talkative, affable and even informative.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Their hunt hadn't been an easy one--they made the journey three times before they found the place.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was talkative, affable and even informative.
at the time that
From this reading Devlin, he told them, had searched out the abandoned house after his talk with the old hermit when they had had a breakdown with their car some ten miles from the bog.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A SLIP Frost drove away from the clearing with a confidence that communicated itself to Nickie.
