used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
how long something has existed
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
cavesnounUS /keɪvz/
plural of “cave” — a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
coversnounUS /ˈkʌvərz/
plural of “cover” — a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
creepers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
day-creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
Doré
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
grotesqueadjectiveUS /ɡroʊˈtesk/
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
JUNGLEnounUS /ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
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 For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
engage in
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
on one occasion
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
overtakenverbUS /ˈoʊvərteɪkən/
inflected form of “overtake” — catch up with and possibly overtake
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
prowlers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading There was rarely a sound.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
serpentsnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənts/
plural of “serpent” — limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There was rarely a sound.
stealthilyadverb
in a stealthy manner
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was rarely a sound.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
thumpverbUS /θʌmp/
move rhythmically
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
up-welling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being and make my heart to thump heavily.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was rarely a sound.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.
at the time that
From this reading THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally sank behind the hill.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré.
