used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
allynounUS /ˈælaɪ/
a friendly nation
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
have
From this reading "Bear nothing!" exclaimed the scout who held the gun.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
(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 Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
DavynounUS /ˈdeɪvi/
English chemist who was a pioneer in electrochemistry and who used it to isolate elements sodium and potassium and barium and boron and calcium and magnesium and chlorine (1778-1829)
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
elevatedadjectiveUS /ˈeləveɪtɪd/
raised above the ground
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Bear nothing!" exclaimed the scout who held the gun.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
GiraffenounUS /dʒərˈæf/
tallest living quadruped; having a spotted coat and small horns and very long neck and legs; of savannahs of tropical Africa
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading "Bear nothing!" exclaimed the scout who held the gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading "Bear nothing!" exclaimed the scout who held the gun.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "What was it, then, Giraffe, if not a bear?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
and nothing more
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
absolutely essential
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "What was it, then, Giraffe, if not a bear?
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "Bear nothing!" exclaimed the scout who held the gun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
rightedverbUS /ˈraɪtɪd/
past form of “right” — make reparations or amends for
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
scoutnounUS /skaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading "Bear nothing!" exclaimed the scout who held the gun.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
somersaultnounUS /ˈsʌmərsɔːlt/
an acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
express in words
From this reading Don't tell me it was a dog," demanded the other, having righted himself after his somersault.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Bear nothing!" exclaimed the scout who held the gun.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "What was it, then, Giraffe, if not a bear?
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Just in time, however, he had managed to get a better view of the creature that Davy had stumbled upon, losing his balance in his excitement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading He had instinctively elevated the weapon at the first sound of alarm from his ally; and had it been necessary Giraffe was in a position to have given a good account of himself, for he was known to be a somewhat clever shot.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What was it, then, Giraffe, if not a bear?
which person or people
From this reading "Bear nothing!" exclaimed the scout who held the gun.
