used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DASH THROUGH THE FLAMES.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
at or in the front
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In a second the tree was transformed into the semblance of an immense torch.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
lacking funds
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
Cal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
cracksnounUS /kræks/
plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
DASHverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading A DASH THROUGH THE FLAMES.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading A DASH THROUGH THE FLAMES.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
ten 10s
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
ignitingverbUS /ˌɪɡˈnaɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “ignite” — cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading In a second the tree was transformed into the semblance of an immense torch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
resinousadjective
having the characteristics of pitch or tar
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading In a second the tree was transformed into the semblance of an immense torch.
semblancenounUS /ˈsembləns/
an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
From this reading In a second the tree was transformed into the semblance of an immense torch.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
successionnounUS /səkˈseʃən/
a following of one thing after another in time
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
summitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DASH THROUGH THE FLAMES.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
a special situation
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A DASH THROUGH THE FLAMES.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading In a second the tree was transformed into the semblance of an immense torch.
transformedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɔːrmd/
given a completely different form or appearance
From this reading In a second the tree was transformed into the semblance of an immense torch.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It was nothing more or less than the smoking summit of a big tree a few hundred feet ahead of them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The object thus indicated by Cal was in fact about as alarming a thing as they could have encountered.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As they gazed it broke into flame, the resinous leaves igniting with a succession of sharp cracks like pistol shots.
