used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
Andy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
cautionedverbUS /ˈkɑːʃənd/
past form of “caution” — warn strongly; put on guard
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
discoverernounUS /dɪˈskʌvərər/
someone who is the first to think of or make something
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
doublyadverbUS /ˈdʌbli/
to double the degree
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
the act of departing
From this reading “My stars! what’s going to happen next, I wonder!”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
come to pass
From this reading “My stars! what’s going to happen next, I wonder!”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “My stars! what’s going to happen next, I wonder!”
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
hear with intention
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My stars! what’s going to happen next, I wonder!”
immediately following in time or order
From this reading “My stars! what’s going to happen next, I wonder!”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading “Now, keep real quiet and listen!” cautioned Andy, after they had reached the open air.
move hurridly
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading “My stars! what’s going to happen next, I wonder!”
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “My stars! what’s going to happen next, I wonder!”
TubbyadjectiveUS /ˈtʌbi/
short and plump
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
tumultuouslyadverb
in a tumultuous and riotous manner
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Their hearts beat doubly fast, and knocked tumultuously against their prison walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Tubby said half to himself, as they all made a rush for the outside, Andy leading the way, as became the first discoverer.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My stars! what’s going to happen next, I wonder!”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The boys fairly held their breath, such was their eagerness to hear, and learn whether Andy could have been mistaken.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading “My stars! what’s going to happen next, I wonder!”
