used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
bristledadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪsəld/
having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
cat'snounUS /kæts/
possessive form of “cat” — feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
chokingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃoʊ.kɪŋ/
Causing difficulty in breathing.
From this reading "The horn, the horn," whispered Mary in a choking voice, "it will frighten him."
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
felineadjectiveUS /ˈfiːlaɪn/
of or relating to cats
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
frightenverbUS /ˈfraɪtən/
cause fear in
From this reading "The horn, the horn," whispered Mary in a choking voice, "it will frighten him."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "The horn, the horn," whispered Mary in a choking voice, "it will frighten him."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
hornnounUS /hɔːrn/
a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
From this reading "The horn, the horn," whispered Mary in a choking voice, "it will frighten him."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
inheritedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈherətɪd/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "The horn, the horn," whispered Mary in a choking voice, "it will frighten him."
jaguarnounUS /ˈdʒæɡwɑːr/
a large spotted feline of tropical America similar to the leopard; in some classifications considered a member of the genus Felis
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
leopardnounUS /ˈlepərd/
the pelt of a leopard
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
lustrenounUS /ˈlʌstər/
a surface coating for ceramics or porcelain
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading "The horn, the horn," whispered Mary in a choking voice, "it will frighten him."
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
paddedadjectiveUS /ˈpædɪd/
softened by the addition of cushions or padding
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
panthernounUS /ˈpænθər/
a large spotted feline of tropical America similar to the leopard; in some classifications considered a member of the genus Felis
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
pawsnounUS /pɔːz/
plural of “paw” — a clawed foot of an animal especially a quadruped
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
reputedverbUS /rɪˈpjuːtɪd/
past form of “repute” — look on as or consider
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
possessing material wealth
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
sinuousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪnwəs/
curved or curving in and out
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
successive (without a break)
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
the rays of the sun
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
moving very fast
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From his reputed royal ancestors, the lion and the panther, the leopard, or jaguar, as he is called in that region, had inherited a sinuous body, swift as a flash in movement, and a savage, feline face.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading A ray of sunlight, falling on the soft tones of his beautiful spotted skin, gave out a rich lustre.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "The horn, the horn," whispered Mary in a choking voice, "it will frighten him."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The smooth padded paws, under their velvet covering, were as strong as steel.
whirringnounUS /ˈwɜːrɪŋ/
sound of something in rapid motion
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
whiskersnounUS /ˈwɪskərz/
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading His fierce, gray whiskers bristled at the whirring of the motor and his ears stood up straight like an angry cat's.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "The horn, the horn," whispered Mary in a choking voice, "it will frighten him."
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "The horn, the horn," whispered Mary in a choking voice, "it will frighten him."
