used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading He rose glowering and angry.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
the two together, not just one
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
bowldernoun
a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
cliffnounUS /klɪf/
a steep high face of rock
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
creeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading He rose to his feet with the resolution and crouched suddenly, listening hard.
doin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
divisible by two
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He rose to his feet with the resolution and crouched suddenly, listening hard.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
a young female
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
gloweringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlaʊərɪŋ/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading He rose glowering and angry.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He rose to his feet with the resolution and crouched suddenly, listening hard.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
and nothing more
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading He rose to his feet with the resolution and crouched suddenly, listening hard.
MavisnounUS /ˈmeɪvɪs/
common Old World thrush noted for its song
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading He rose to his feet with the resolution and crouched suddenly, listening hard.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading He rose to his feet with the resolution and crouched suddenly, listening hard.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
stealthilyadverb
in a stealthy manner
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He rose to his feet with the resolution and crouched suddenly, listening hard.
in a swift manner
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
express in words
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He rose to his feet with the resolution and crouched suddenly, listening hard.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
thumbnounUS /θʌm/
the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
undergrowthnounUS /ˈʌndərɡroʊθ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading Something was coming swiftly toward him through the undergrowth on the other side of the creek, and he reached stealthily for his rifle, sank behind the bowlder with his thumb on the hammer just as the bushes parted on the opposite cliff, and Mavis stood above him, peering for him and calling his name in an excited whisper.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
Whut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He rose to his feet with the resolution and crouched suddenly, listening hard.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would keep his find a secret from every soul on earth--even from his grandfather and Mavis, both of whom he had already been tempted to tell.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Whut you doin' up here?" he asked roughly, and the girl shrank, and her message stopped at her lips.
