used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
towards the shore from the water
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Could it have been a shell, do you think?”
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
lacking funds
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
Bumpus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
caissonnounUS /ˈkeɪsən/
an ornamental sunken panel in a ceiling or dome
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Could it have been a shell, do you think?”
cowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Could it have been a shell, do you think?”
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
one or the other of two
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
fragmentnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/
A small part broken or separated off something larger.
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Could it have been a shell, do you think?”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
immediately past
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
for more time
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
not any; not one
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading “Could it have been a shell, do you think?”
shrieknounUS /ʃriːk/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
suspicionsnounUS /səˈspɪʃənz/
plural of “suspicion” — an impression that something might be the case
From this reading Thad had his suspicions.
Thad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Could it have been a shell, do you think?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
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 The boys and the driver of the caisson cowered there and waited until the last fragment had fallen, either in the water or else ashore.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
at the time that
From this reading “Oh! what did it, Thad?” broke in Bumpus, when he was able to find his tongue and lift his shrill voice to a shriek.
in or at the place that
From this reading They no longer had a way open for reaching the opposite bank of the stream, where possible safety awaited them.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Could it have been a shell, do you think?”
