used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
any thing at all
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading “It’s a small Bible,” said C. C., as he examined it.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature
From this reading “It’s a small Bible,” said C. C., as he examined it.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “What is it?” cried Joe.
CrowdingnounUS /ˈkraʊdɪŋ/
a situation in which people or things are crowded together
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
a female human offspring
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
remove the dust from
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading “It’s a small Bible,” said C. C., as he examined it.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is it?” cried Joe.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a small Bible,” said C. C., as he examined it.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What is it?” cried Joe.
large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
misshapenadjectiveUS /mɪsˈʃeɪpən/
so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
on one occasion
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
PipernounUS /ˈpaɪpər/
someone who plays the bagpipe
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
rainsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It’s a small Bible,” said C. C., as he examined it.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “It’s a small Bible,” said C. C., as he examined it.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
a special situation
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
a shaky motion
From this reading “Is it any message from my daughter?” demanded the former sailor, as with trembling hands he reached for it.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE LION HUNT Crowding around Mr. Piper they all tried at once to look at what he had picked up.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was something covered with dust and ashes--something swollen with the rains that had fallen--a strange, misshapen thing, that seemed to be a book, and yet which might have been almost anything.
