used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
baredadjectiveUS /berd/
having the head uncovered
From this reading Deadlock yarred through his bared teeth.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could thrust in only his head.
DeadlocknounUS /ˈdedlɑːk/
a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible
From this reading Deadlock yarred through his bared teeth.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
earmarknounUS /ˈɪrmɑːrk/
identification mark on the ear of a domestic animal
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
footholdnounUS /ˈfʊthoʊld/
an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He could thrust in only his head.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
holt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He could thrust in only his head.
initialnounUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃəl/
the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
kickingnounUS /ˈkɪkɪŋ/
a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
the literary culture
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
mouthsnounUS /maʊðz/
plural of “mouth” — the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
and nothing more
From this reading He could thrust in only his head.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
otternounUS /ˈɑːtər/
the fur of an otter
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
arrange in a container
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
pawsnounUS /pɔːz/
plural of “paw” — a clawed foot of an animal especially a quadruped
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
tattooedverbUS /ˌtæˈtuːd/
past form of “tattoo” — stain (skin) with indelible color
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
push forcefully
From this reading He could thrust in only his head.
tinder-wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
tissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Three small mouths at the other end of the holt opened and tissed in immense fright.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading He held by his paws, and his teeth tore at the sodden tinder-wood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
in or at the place that
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While he was kicking the water for a foothold, the otter ran forward and bit him through the ear, piercing the earmark where the blue initial letters of his original pack were tattooed.
yarred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deadlock yarred through his bared teeth.
