used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Perhaps you know something about it."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
a person who is in charge
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
communicatingnounUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪtɪŋ/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
without stop or interruption
From this reading "Valaya is the name of the place," Van Isaac continued.
decisivelyadverbUS /dɪˈsaɪsɪvli/
with firmness
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
dotnounUS /dɑːt/
a very small circular shape
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
dotsnounUS /dɑːts/
plural of “dot” — a very small circular shape
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
expertsnounUS /ˈekspərts/
plural of “expert” — a person with special knowledge or ability who performs skillfully
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
glazedadjectiveUS /ɡleɪzd/
(used of eyes) lacking liveliness
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
IsaacnounUS /ˈaɪzək/
(Old Testament) the second patriarch; son of Abraham and Sarah who was offered by Abraham as a sacrifice to God; father of Jacob and Esau
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Perhaps you know something about it."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Perhaps you know something about it."
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
mapverbUS /mæp/
make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Valaya is the name of the place," Van Isaac continued.
plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
pepperedverbUS /ˈpepərd/
past form of “pepper” — add pepper to
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
by chance
From this reading "Perhaps you know something about it."
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "Valaya is the name of the place," Van Isaac continued.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
primitiveadjectiveUS /ˈprɪmətɪv/
belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
probedverbUS /proʊbd/
past form of “probe” — question or examine thoroughly and closely
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
rodlikeadjective
resembling a rod
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "Perhaps you know something about it."
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
stumpedverbUS /stʌmpt/
past form of “stump” — cause to be perplexed or confounded
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
a source of difficulty
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
Valaya
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
violetnounUS /ˈvaɪəlɪt/
any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Other dots peppered the giant glazed star map, companions of which hung on the other three walls of the chamber.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading The older man's rodlike finger probed decisively at a violet dot placed on a thin yellow line of a circle, third out from a sun.
but in spite of that
From this reading _Valaya was a primitive society, yet the natives had a way of communicating that had the experts stumped...._ "This," said chief Van Isaac, "is our new trouble spot."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Perhaps you know something about it."
