used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And I think he had a right to be proud.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
how long something has existed
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And I think he had a right to be proud.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
awaitverbUS /əˈweɪt/
look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And I think he had a right to be proud.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
Bert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
Bobbsey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
bobcatnounUS /ˈbɑːbkæt/
small lynx of North America
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
clawnounUS /klɔː/
sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading And I think he had a right to be proud.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
on one occasion
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
oncomingadjectiveUS /ˈɔːnkʌmɪŋ/
moving toward one
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
precisely, exactly
From this reading And I think he had a right to be proud.
self-reliantadjective
(of persons) free from external control and constraint in e.g. action and judgment
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
snowballsnounUS /ˈsnoʊbɔːlz/
plural of “snowball” — plant having heads of fragrant white trumpet-shaped flowers; grows in sandy arid regions
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
startsnounUS /stɑːrts/
plural of “start” — the beginning of anything
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading And I think he had a right to be proud.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And I think he had a right to be proud.
two times
From this reading And so, after looking back once or twice as he left the clearing, and finding that the bobcat did not follow, Bert began to feel much better.
precisely as stated
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
wildcatnounUS /ˈwaɪldkæt/
an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Bert Bobbsey felt very proud of himself after he had driven away the wildcat with snowballs.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading But Bert had spent so much time in the woods and out in the open that he was very self-reliant.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Not many boys of his age would have dared to stand and await the oncoming of a beast that is quite dangerous once it starts to claw and bite.
