used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
in a state of sleep
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
the lower side of anything
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
a youthful male person
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
placed in a grave
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
destroyed or killed
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day
From this reading “Ha, ha, ha!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
immediately past
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
the sound of laughing
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
no person; not anyone
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
being perceived or observed
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
Pierrotnoun
a male character in French pantomime; usually dressed in white with a whitened face
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
ROWINGnounUS /ˈroʊɪŋ/
the act of rowing as a sport
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
shorteradjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtər/
comparative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading From behind a piece of rock, however, half buried in the sand, came the sound of laughter.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
express a supposition
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ROWING shorter and shorter as he hurried along, Boy noticed that the Moon had gone back to its usual place in the sky, and that Pierrot was nowhere to be seen.
at the time that
From this reading When he at last reached the bottom one, he was greatly disappointed to find that there was nobody in sight.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I suppose he is lying down asleep on the cushions,” he thought, as he let himself down from one step to another; for you see he had by this time become so small that the steps seemed like huge rocks to him.
