used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
echoverbUS /ˈekoʊ/
to say again or imitate
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Nonsense!” exclaimed the tall lad.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “I give it up,” said Jerry.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I give it up,” said Jerry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I give it up,” said Jerry.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading “I give it up,” said Jerry.
a boy or man
From this reading “Nonsense!” exclaimed the tall lad.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
by chance
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
the force of workers available
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading “Nonsense!” exclaimed the tall lad.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
to say, state, or perform again
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I give it up,” said Jerry.
SERPENTSnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənts/
plural of “serpent” — limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading “Nonsense!” exclaimed the tall lad.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “I give it up,” said Jerry.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
which person or people
From this reading “Maybe they were the ghosts of the three men in the boat, who may have been drowned around here,” suggested Ned.
the words that are spoken
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He spoke in low tones, so that the weird echo would not repeat his words.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A NEST OF SERPENTS “What--what do you think they were?” asked Bob, after a few moments of silence.
