used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DOUBTS AND DEBTS.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
move towards
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
daytimenounUS /ˈdeɪtaɪm/
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
DEBTSnounUS /dets/
plural of “debt” — the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading DOUBTS AND DEBTS.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
digverbUS /dɪɡ/
turn up, loosen, or remove earth
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
the act of discovering something
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
DOUBTSnounUS /daʊts/
plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something
From this reading DOUBTS AND DEBTS.
enabledverbUS /eˈneɪbəld/
past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
exposingverbUS /ɪkˈspoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “expose” — expose or make accessible to some action or influence
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
not accessible to view
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
imprudentadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːdənt/
not prudent or wise
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
Leopold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
a human being
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
possessornounUS /pəˈzesər/
a person who owns something
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
on the contrary
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
Stumpyadjective
short and thick; as e.g. having short legs and heavy musculature
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
terriblyadverbUS /ˈterəbli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
unseasonableadjective
not in keeping with (and usually undesirable for) the season
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was the possessor of a mighty secret, and he felt that he had been very imprudent in exposing it to discovery.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
at the time that
From this reading Leopold was terribly startled when he heard the voice of Stumpy.
which person or people
From this reading But he was glad it was Stumpy, rather than any other person, who had detected him in his strange and unseasonable labor.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would have been better to dig up the hidden treasure in the daytime, when the light would have enabled him to observe the approach of an intruder.
