used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They had little fear that the wild-cat would pay them another visit, for it had undoubtedly been badly frightened.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading They had little fear that the wild-cat would pay them another visit, for it had undoubtedly been badly frightened.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
the lower side of anything
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
lacking funds
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
decayedadjectiveUS /dəˈkeɪd/
damaged by decay; hence unsound and useless
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading They had little fear that the wild-cat would pay them another visit, for it had undoubtedly been badly frightened.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
made afraid
From this reading They had little fear that the wild-cat would pay them another visit, for it had undoubtedly been badly frightened.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
injurynounUS /ˈɪndʒəri/
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
not any; not one
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
outcrynounUS /ˈaʊtkraɪ/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading They had little fear that the wild-cat would pay them another visit, for it had undoubtedly been badly frightened.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/
take up or begin anew
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had little fear that the wild-cat would pay them another visit, for it had undoubtedly been badly frightened.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Nevertheless, he must have been a little stunned at first, for he made no outcry for some time, and it was his first call for help that was heard by Charley.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
unceremoniouslyadverbUS /ˌʌnserəˈmoʊniəsli/
in an unceremonious manner
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
undoubtedlyadverbUS /ənˈdaʊtɪdli/
without doubt; certainly
From this reading They had little fear that the wild-cat would pay them another visit, for it had undoubtedly been badly frightened.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading They had little fear that the wild-cat would pay them another visit, for it had undoubtedly been badly frightened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
(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 It was an easy matter to help Joe out of the old well.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
wild-cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fallen into it while running after the wild-cat, but a heap of decayed leaves at the bottom broke the fall and saved him from any serious injury.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They had little fear that the wild-cat would pay them another visit, for it had undoubtedly been badly frightened.
but in spite of that
From this reading The boys returned to their canoes, and, as it was not yet midnight, prepared to resume the sleep from which they had been so unceremoniously awakened.
