used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The sun then was straight above me--half the day was gone.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
beast-fires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
next to; at the side of
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The sun then was straight above me--half the day was gone.
dwellingsnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋz/
plural of “dwelling” — housing that someone is living in
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The sun then was straight above me--half the day was gone.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The sun then was straight above me--half the day was gone.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
intendingverbUS /ˌɪnˈtendɪŋ/
-ing form of “intend” — have in mind as a purpose
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sun then was straight above me--half the day was gone.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
go across or through
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/
an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The sun then was straight above me--half the day was gone.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun then was straight above me--half the day was gone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The sun then was straight above me--half the day was gone.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
Tur's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading "I rested for the balance of the night in a great tree close beside the village of the strangers," she said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun then was straight above me--half the day was gone.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading "And so, after filling my stomach, I crept back through the trees to the edge of the village, and there I watched.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
in or at the place that
From this reading "Early the next morning I set out in search of food, intending to travel northward until I came to our old dwellings where I could live in comparative safety.
showing curiosity
From this reading "But all the time I kept wondering what it might have been that leaped upon Tur's back in the shelter the night before and the more I thought about it the more apparent it became that it might have been a man--that it must have been a man, for what animal could pass through the beast-fires unseen?
