used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BATTLE ROYAL.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading A BATTLE ROYAL.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
of short duration or distance
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
bruisedverbUS /bruːzd/
past form of “bruise” — injure the underlying soft tissue or bone of
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
despatched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
detectionnounUS /dɪˈtekʃən/
the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
dumbadjectiveUS /dʌm/
slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
examinationnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
lad's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
riskingverbUS /ˈrɪskɪŋ/
-ing form of “risk” — expose to a chance of loss or damage
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
ROYALadjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading A BATTLE ROYAL.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
sorely-tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading If he had not dropped his little rifle in the excitement of his escape he would have despatched the creature,—risking the chance of detection from the sound of the report.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
a state of acute pain
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/
past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
having come into contact
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Its knees were cut and bruised, and it lay with an expression of dumb suffering in its eyes that touched the sorely-tried lad’s heart.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Jack struggled to his feet and surveyed the scene of his disaster with dismay.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A brief examination of his fallen horse told him that it would be impossible to continue his flight on the animal.
