used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
from appearances alone
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
cotnounUS /kɑːt/
a sheath worn to protect a finger
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
deprivedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpraɪvd/
marked by deprivation especially of the necessities of life or healthful environmental influences
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
an opposing military force
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
facultiesnounUS /ˈfækəltiz/
plural of “faculty” — one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind
From this reading Old Joe was the first to recover his faculties.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Old Joe was the first to recover his faculties.
followersnounUS /ˈfɑːloʊərz/
a group of followers or enthusiasts
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
a small worthless amount
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
Picquet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
pitiableadjectiveUS /ˈpɪtiəbəl/
inspiring mixed contempt and pity
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
precariousadjectiveUS /priˈkeriəs/
affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
rattlesnakenounUS /ˈrætəlsneɪk/
pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading Old Joe was the first to recover his faculties.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
riflesnounUS /ˈraɪfəlz/
plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
spitefuladjectiveUS /ˈspaɪtfəl/
showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
swiftnessnounUS /ˈswɪftnəs/
a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
male cat
From this reading It is now time to return to Tom, Jack and their companion, old Joe Picquet.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
trionounUS /ˈtriːoʊ/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
untoprepositionUS /ˈʌntuː/
an old word for “to”
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
precisely as stated
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
viciousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪʃəs/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
vindictiveadjectiveUS /vɪnˈdɪktɪv/
disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
From this reading From a man apparently sick unto death, the gray, pitiable figure on the cot had been suddenly changed to a vicious, spiteful enemy, as vindictive and apparently as dangerous as a rattlesnake.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Old Joe was the first to recover his faculties.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The very swiftness of the change had taken them so utterly by surprise that, as the rifles of his three followers were trained upon them, our trio of friends were deprived of speech.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It will be recalled that we left them in a most precarious and startling situation.
