used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
(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 My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was man's country now, and there were no other bears in the vicinity.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
axesnounUS /ˈæksɪz/
plural of “ax” — an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
bearsnounUS /berz/
plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
From this reading It was man's country now, and there were no other bears in the vicinity.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
of short duration or distance
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
choppingverbUS /ˈtʃɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “chop” — cut into pieces
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading It was man's country now, and there were no other bears in the vicinity.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
cubsnounUS /kʌbz/
plural of “cub” — an awkward and inexperienced youth
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
cunningadjectiveUS /ˈkʌnɪŋ/
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
an opposing military force
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
opinion or judgment
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
a social unit living together
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
destroyed or killed
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
inexperiencedadjectiveUS /ɪnɪkˈspɪriənst/
lacking practical experience or training
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was man's country now, and there were no other bears in the vicinity.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
the force of workers available
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
in motion
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
not any; not one
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was man's country now, and there were no other bears in the vicinity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was man's country now, and there were no other bears in the vicinity.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
without speaking
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was man's country now, and there were no other bears in the vicinity.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
up to a particular time
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
TRAPnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
unscathedadjectiveUS /ənˈskeɪðd/
not injured or harmed
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
vicinitynounUS /vəˈsɪnəti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading It was man's country now, and there were no other bears in the vicinity.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Many times during the day men passed not far from us, and the distant sounds of their voices and the chopping of axes was in our ears all day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE TRAP The old neighbourhood was no place for us to stay in, however satisfactory our brief visit to it had been.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was man's country now, and there were no other bears in the vicinity.
at the time that
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
in the company of; together with
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
Wooffa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So we remained under cover till well into the night, when man's eyes are useless, and then we started out silently, and, as our custom was when moving through dangerous country, in single file, with the cubs between Wooffa and myself.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
a late time of life
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
but in spite of that
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
youngstersnounUS /ˈjʌŋstərz/
plural of “youngster” — a young person of either sex
From this reading My enemy of the night before, being old and cunning and solitary, had managed to live there unscathed year after year, after the other bears had all gone away or been killed; but for us, a family of four, of whom two were inexperienced youngsters not yet two years old, it was different.
