used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
accompanyverbUS /əˈkʌmpəni/
be present or associated with an event or entity
From this reading Discussion would only waste time; no one else could accompany him.
accomplishverbUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/
put in effect
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
anew
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
basedadjectiveUS /beɪst/
having a base
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
lacking funds
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
consultingverbUS /kənˈsʌltɪŋ/
-ing form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
the first light of day
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
recognizable; marked
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
DiscussionnounUS /dɪˈskʌʃən/
an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
From this reading Discussion would only waste time; no one else could accompany him.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
eldersnounUS /ˈeldərz/
plural of “elder” — a person who is older than you are
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Discussion would only waste time; no one else could accompany him.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
a boy or man
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Discussion would only waste time; no one else could accompany him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
intuitionnounUS /ˌɪntuːˈɪʃən/
instinctive knowing (without the use of rational processes)
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
Nicky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
not any; not one
From this reading Discussion would only waste time; no one else could accompany him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
on one occasion
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Discussion would only waste time; no one else could accompany him.
and nothing more
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
plannedadjectiveUS /plænd/
designed or carried out according to a plan
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
cut with a saw
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
speculationnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən/
a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
male cat
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Discussion would only waste time; no one else could accompany him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What Cliff planned to do was based more on intuition than on any carefully thought out ideas.
at the time that
From this reading When the excitement broke out it was early morning; by the time that the camp settled down again it was almost time for dawn.
which person or people
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As he returned to his tent with Tom and Nicky he had a sudden flash of inspiration and when he saw that in spite of their excitement his two companions fell into futile speculation, he decided that what he wanted to do could be done only if he acted alone and at once.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Discussion would only waste time; no one else could accompany him.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Of course he thought of consulting his elders; but like any young fellow who had what appeared to be a bright idea he wanted to accomplish his plan alone and not have to turn it over to someone else.
