used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
alligatornounUS /ˈæləɡeɪtər/
leather made from alligator's hide
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
any thing at all
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
bathnounUS /bæθ/
a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “And he can stay under until I get out of sight,” Hal muttered savagely.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
recognizable; marked
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The trail skirted the pond, for which he was tremendously thankful.
furtiveadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtɪv/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “And he can stay under until I get out of sight,” Hal muttered savagely.
the act of giving
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
good-sized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
housingnounUS /ˈhaʊzɪŋ/
structures collectively in which people are housed
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “And he can stay under until I get out of sight,” Hal muttered savagely.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
initiativenounUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/
readiness to embark on bold new ventures
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
monsternounUS /ˈmɑːnstər/
an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading “And he can stay under until I get out of sight,” Hal muttered savagely.
nearnessnoun
the spatial property resulting from a relatively small distance
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “And he can stay under until I get out of sight,” Hal muttered savagely.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
pondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
revivedadjectiveUS /rɪˈvaɪvd/
restored to consciousness or life or vigor
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
ripplenounUS /ˈrɪpəl/
a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
savagelyadverbUS /ˈsævɪdʒli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading “And he can stay under until I get out of sight,” Hal muttered savagely.
except for; apart from
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
seepedverbUS /siːpt/
past form of “seep” — pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading “And he can stay under until I get out of sight,” Hal muttered savagely.
skirtedverbUS /ˈskɜːrtɪd/
past form of “skirt” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading The trail skirted the pond, for which he was tremendously thankful.
slimy-green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading The trail skirted the pond, for which he was tremendously thankful.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He gave it a furtive glance in passing, but there was nothing save a good-sized ripple on the slimy-green surface, and Hal decided that the monster must be taking his morning bath.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading But the nearness of the pond housing an alligator, and the hope that the trail revived, did much toward giving him the strength and initiative to go on.
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 Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
tremendouslyadverbUS /trəˈmendəsli/
extremely
From this reading The trail skirted the pond, for which he was tremendously thankful.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “And he can stay under until I get out of sight,” Hal muttered savagely.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading “And he can stay under until I get out of sight,” Hal muttered savagely.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
at the time that
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
in or at the place that
From this reading Hal was sick when daylight seeped in through the trees; he felt much too sick to do anything but stay right where he was.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The trail skirted the pond, for which he was tremendously thankful.
