used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their startled mahout turned and stared in disbelief.
ankusnoun
an elephant goad with a sharp spike and a hook
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
barbedadjectiveUS /bɑːrbd/
capable of wounding
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
defiantadjectiveUS /dɪˈfaɪənt/
boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
disbeliefnounUS /ˌdɪsbɪˈliːf/
doubt about the truth of something
From this reading Their startled mahout turned and stared in disbelief.
elephantnounUS /ˈeləfənt/
five-toed pachyderm
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
emittedverbUS /ɪˈmɪtəd/
inflected form of “emit” — expel (gases or odors)
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
grabbedverbUS /ɡræbd/
inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
Hawksworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
howdahnoun
a (usually canopied) seat for riding on the back of a camel or elephant
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their startled mahout turned and stared in disbelief.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
held up in the air
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
mahoutnoun
the driver and keeper of an elephant
From this reading Their startled mahout turned and stared in disbelief.
a particular point in time
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
a strong line
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
severedadjectiveUS /ˈsevərd/
detached by cutting
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Their startled mahout turned and stared in disbelief.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Their startled mahout turned and stared in disbelief.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
tetherverbUS /ˈteðər/
tie with a tether
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
trumpetverbUS /ˈtrʌmpət/
proclaim on, or as if on, a trumpet
From this reading Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
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 Hawksworth grabbed the _ankus_, but before he could move, the elephant lifted its trunk into the morning air and emitted a long, defiant trumpet.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Their startled mahout turned and stared in disbelief.
tyingnounUS /ˈtaɪɪŋ/
the act of tying or binding things together
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
at the time that
From this reading When Hawksworth shouted at him to start, he hesitated for a moment, then flung his barbed iron _ankus _into their _howdah _and plunged for the grass.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a single stroke he severed the tether rope tying their elephant.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes."
