used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
ascendsverbUS /əˈsendz/
third-person singular of “ascend” — travel up
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
AUSTRALIANnounUS /ɔːˈstreɪljən/
a native or inhabitant of Australia
From this reading AUSTRALIAN BLACKS--THROWING THE BOOMERANG.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
BLACKSnounUS /blæks/
plural of “black” — the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading AUSTRALIAN BLACKS--THROWING THE BOOMERANG.
BOOMERANGverbUS /ˈbuːməræŋ/
return to the initial position from where it came; like a boomerang
From this reading AUSTRALIAN BLACKS--THROWING THE BOOMERANG.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
cutsnounUS /kʌts/
plural of “cut” — a share of the profits
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why, how does he do it?"
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Why, how does he do it?"
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
a boy or man
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
a man of refinement
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
gumsnounUS /ɡʌmz/
plural of “gum” — a preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Why, how does he do it?"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, how does he do it?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Why, how does he do it?"
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 "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
notchnounUS /nɑːtʃ/
a V-shaped indentation
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
notchesnounUS /ˈnɑːtʃəz/
plural of “notch” — a V-shaped indentation
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
reachesnounUS /ˈriːtʃəz/
plural of “reach” — the limits within which something can be effective
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
spiralnounUS /ˈspaɪrəl/
a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at increasing distances from the center
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AUSTRALIAN BLACKS--THROWING THE BOOMERANG.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading AUSTRALIAN BLACKS--THROWING THE BOOMERANG.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Those giant gums are not easy to climb," Ned remarked, as the gentleman paused.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
a source of difficulty
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
in or at the place that
From this reading "He cuts notches in the trunk of the tree where he can place his feet, and he goes on cutting notch after notch as he ascends, making a broad spiral around the tree until he reaches the limbs.
a Caucasian
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, how does he do it?"
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Not by any means," was the reply; "at least, not for a white man, but the black fellow will climb one of them, or any other tree, with very little trouble."
