used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He said something about "nonsense, it can't be."
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
in addition
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He said something about "nonsense, it can't be."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The moon was not yet up, consequently we could see but indistinctly.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said something about "nonsense, it can't be."
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
consequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading The moon was not yet up, consequently we could see but indistinctly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The moon was not yet up, consequently we could see but indistinctly.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "For God's sake don't fire--it is a man on horseback."
elephant'snounUS /ˈeləfənts/
possessive form of “elephant” — five-toed pachyderm
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
opinion or judgment
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
FnounUS /ef/
a degree on the Fahrenheit scale of temperature
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "For God's sake don't fire--it is a man on horseback."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
a quick look
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
God'snounUS /ɡɑːdz/
possessive form of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading "For God's sake don't fire--it is a man on horseback."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said something about "nonsense, it can't be."
horsebacknounUS /ˈhɔːrsbæk/
the back of a horse
From this reading "For God's sake don't fire--it is a man on horseback."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
indistinctlyadverb
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading The moon was not yet up, consequently we could see but indistinctly.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "For God's sake don't fire--it is a man on horseback."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "For God's sake don't fire--it is a man on horseback."
ivories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "For God's sake don't fire--it is a man on horseback."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The moon was not yet up, consequently we could see but indistinctly.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading He said something about "nonsense, it can't be."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "For God's sake don't fire--it is a man on horseback."
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
by chance
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said something about "nonsense, it can't be."
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading "For God's sake don't fire--it is a man on horseback."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The moon was not yet up, consequently we could see but indistinctly.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He said something about "nonsense, it can't be."
sportsmennounUS /ˈspɔːrtsmɪn/
plural of “sportsman” — someone who engages in sports
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/
by that means or because of that
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Somehow the thought came across me that perhaps other sportsmen had also come out to try for a shot, and I called immediately to F.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The moon was not yet up, consequently we could see but indistinctly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As I was straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of the glittering ivories, and thereby to judge the position of the elephant's shoulder, I fancied that the step did not appear like an elephant's.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The moon was not yet up, consequently we could see but indistinctly.
but in spite of that
From this reading The moon was not yet up, consequently we could see but indistinctly.
