used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
any thing at all
From this reading “Anything is better than staying here.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading “Anything is better than staying here.”
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading “Nothing to do but take a chance at it,” he decided.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
recognizable; marked
From this reading “Nothing to do but take a chance at it,” he decided.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Nothing to do but take a chance at it,” he decided.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
fouladjectiveUS /faʊl/
highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Anything is better than staying here.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
an opening into or through something
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Anything is better than staying here.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Nothing to do but take a chance at it,” he decided.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
immediately past
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
engage in
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Nothing to do but take a chance at it,” he decided.
odornounUS /ˈoʊdər/
any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
sickenedverbUS /ˈsɪkənd/
past form of “sicken” — cause aversion in; offend the moral sense of
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
sloopnounUS /sluːp/
a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading “Anything is better than staying here.”
stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/
an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
carry out
From this reading “Nothing to do but take a chance at it,” he decided.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “Anything is better than staying here.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
a special situation
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
voidadjectiveUS /vɔɪd/
lacking any legal or binding force
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At last the third board came up and the hole was large enough to permit him to go through.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He lay on his stomach, peering down into the dark void, sickened by the rank, foul odor which rose in force to his nose.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But he was unable to make out a thing in the dark hole, as he had not brought any matches with him from the sloop.
