used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
aggravatingadjectiveUS /ˈæɡrəveɪtɪŋ/
making worse
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
bearingsnounUS /ˈberɪŋz/
plural of “bearing” — relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
civiladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
dashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
disadvantagesnounUS /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒɪz/
plural of “disadvantage” — the quality of having an inferior or less favorable position
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
disconcertingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ/
causing an emotional disturbance
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
franticallyadverbUS /ˈfræntəkəli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
full-tilt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
death of a person
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
gropingadjectiveUS /ˈɡroʊpɪŋ/
acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
engage in
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
passer-bynoun
a person who passes by casually or by chance
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
PreludenounUS /ˈpreɪluːd/
something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
express in words
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
shrieknounUS /ʃriːk/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Prelude to Battle There are some grave disadvantages in being invisible.
hard to endure
From this reading It is aggravating to reach an automobile road and find every car trying to drive full-tilt through one.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Gates felt like a man returning from the dead as he picked his way out of the woods, and, reaching a village, began to make a few civil inquiries....
look attentively
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It is disconcerting, to say the least, to ask a passer-by the way, and to be greeted with a shriek, and watch the man turn and dash away frantically, as from a ghost.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading So, at least, Gates concluded as he went groping through the woods in the effort to find his bearings.
