used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LED BY A KINDLY FATE “Well, I declare!”
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What he saw was an entirely different spectacle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
anguishnounUS /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
extreme mental distress
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
on or to one side
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
bodilyadverbUS /ˈbɑːdəli/
in bodily form
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading LED BY A KINDLY FATE “Well, I declare!”
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
declareverbUS /dɪˈkler/
state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading LED BY A KINDLY FATE “Well, I declare!”
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading What he saw was an entirely different spectacle.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading What he saw was an entirely different spectacle.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading LED BY A KINDLY FATE “Well, I declare!”
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
fistsnounUS /fɪsts/
plural of “fist” — a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
a young female
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
hummocknoun
a small natural hill
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading LED BY A KINDLY FATE “Well, I declare!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading LED BY A KINDLY FATE “Well, I declare!”
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading LED BY A KINDLY FATE “Well, I declare!”
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
pounceverbUS /paʊns/
move down on as if in an attack
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
rockingverbUS /ˈrɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “rock” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
rootedadjectiveUS /ˈruːtəd/
absolutely still
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
cut with a saw
From this reading What he saw was an entirely different spectacle.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading What he saw was an entirely different spectacle.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
tear-stained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What he saw was an entirely different spectacle.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading LED BY A KINDLY FATE “Well, I declare!”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Ralph West stood rooted to the spot for a couple of seconds, as he allowed this exclamation to escape from his lips.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What he saw was an entirely different spectacle.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A little girl was seated on a hummock, rocking to and fro, with her childish face tear-stained, and full of bodily anguish.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Perhaps he had half expected to have a couple of fellows pounce upon him as he pushed the branches aside; which would account for the manner in which his fists were clenched, and his teeth set.
