used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But he had no inclination to return and loiter about his hotel.
highly skilled
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had no inclination to return and loiter about his hotel.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
without doubt or question
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
apart from; not including
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading But he had no inclination to return and loiter about his hotel.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ralph Marshall’s pilgrimage was in vain.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading But he had no inclination to return and loiter about his hotel.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
loiterverbUS /ˈlɔɪtər/
be about
From this reading But he had no inclination to return and loiter about his hotel.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
Marshall'snounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəlz/
possessive form of “marshall” — United States actor (1914-1998)
From this reading Ralph Marshall’s pilgrimage was in vain.
the force of workers available
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
not any; not one
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
pilgrimagenounUS /ˈpɪlɡrəmədʒ/
a journey to a sacred place
From this reading Ralph Marshall’s pilgrimage was in vain.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Marshall’s pilgrimage was in vain.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
not used up
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading But he had no inclination to return and loiter about his hotel.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After remaining in the neighborhood for half an hour or more and seeing no human being, Ralph knew that his task was not to be so easily accomplished.
a just detectable amount
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Ralph Marshall’s pilgrimage was in vain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ralph Marshall’s pilgrimage was in vain.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He might have thought that he had made a mistake in the spot, except that there were marks on the ground where the camp fire had been, and he clearly remembered the circle of small hills.
at the time that
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
in or at the place that
From this reading When he reached the place where the men had been in hiding, every trace of them had disappeared.
