used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Half way between himself and the back door something gleamed faintly in the starlight.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
desksnounUS /desks/
plural of “desk” — a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
let fall to the ground
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading Half way between himself and the back door something gleamed faintly in the starlight.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
fortifyingverbUS /ˈfɔːrtɪfaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “fortify” — make strong or stronger
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Half way between himself and the back door something gleamed faintly in the starlight.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Half way between himself and the back door something gleamed faintly in the starlight.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
not any; not one
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
on one occasion
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
panesnounUS /peɪnz/
plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
parkedadjectiveUS /pɑːrkt/
that have been left
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
PatverbUS /pæt/
pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
rustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
scanningnounUS /ˈskænɪŋ/
the process of translating photographs into a digital form that can be recognized by a computer
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
StarkadjectiveUS /stɑːrk/
devoid of any qualifications or disguise or adornment
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
starlightnounUS /ˈstɑːrlaɪt/
the light of the stars
From this reading Half way between himself and the back door something gleamed faintly in the starlight.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Once he thought he heard something drop inside the kitchen door, but no sound followed it and he concluded it had been a rat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
trustynounUS /ˈtrʌsti/
a convict who is considered trustworthy and granted special privileges
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
(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 In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading Billy parked his wheel in its usual place and continued up the hill to the opening at the back, then stood long listening.
in or at the place that
From this reading Billy gave hurried glances about and rustled under the branches like a snake over to where old trusty lay.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
worming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In ten minutes more he was worming his way up the side of Stark mountain, while Pat was fortifying himself well within the little station, behind tables and desks for the night, and scanning the Valley from the dusty window panes.
