used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/
damaged by blows or hard usage
From this reading His head seemed to have been battered until it was out of shape.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His head seemed to have been battered until it was out of shape.
BonapartenounUS /ˈboʊnəpɑːrt/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
Briggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
closestadverbUS /ˈkloʊsəst/
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
disclosingverbUS /dɪˈskloʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “disclose” — make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
start firing a weapon
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
the act of giving
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
gorillanounUS /ɡərˈɪlə/
largest anthropoid ape; terrestrial and vegetarian; of forests of central west Africa
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading His head seemed to have been battered until it was out of shape.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
NapoleonnounUS /nəˈpoʊliən/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His head seemed to have been battered until it was out of shape.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His head seemed to have been battered until it was out of shape.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
recognizingverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “recognize” — accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
RexnounUS /reks/
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
scalpnounUS /skælp/
the skin that covers the top of the head
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading His head seemed to have been battered until it was out of shape.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His head seemed to have been battered until it was out of shape.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading His head seemed to have been battered until it was out of shape.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs, but they did not know him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For what seemed hours Nan and Rex stared across the fire at this man.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His closest friends would have had difficulty in recognizing him now.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading His forehead was swollen over his eyes, giving him almost the appearance of a gorilla, and on one side of his head the scalp had been torn loose, disclosing an ugly wound.
