used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
abatedverbUS /əˈbeɪtɪd/
past form of “abate” — make less active or intense
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “I should say they were made by a fairly big man.”
boathousenounUS /ˈboʊtˈhaʊs/
a shed at the edge of a river or lake; used to store boats
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Might come in useful some day,” he commented.
commentedverbUS /ˈkɑːmentəd/
past form of “comment” — make or write a comment on
From this reading “Might come in useful some day,” he commented.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “Might come in useful some day,” he commented.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading “I should say they were made by a fairly big man.”
footprintsnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnts/
plural of “footprint” — a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
set up or found
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank took measurements of them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Might come in useful some day,” he commented.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I should say they were made by a fairly big man.”
of the present time and place
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “I should say they were made by a fairly big man.”
measurementsnounUS /ˈmeʒərmənts/
plural of “measurement” — the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule
From this reading Frank took measurements of them.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
obliteratedadjectiveUS /əˈblɪtəreɪtɪd/
reduced to nothingness
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
express in words
From this reading “I should say they were made by a fairly big man.”
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “I should say they were made by a fairly big man.”
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
snowstormnounUS /ˈsnoʊstɔːrm/
a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Might come in useful some day,” he commented.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Frank took measurements of them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Frank took measurements of them.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
being of use or service
From this reading “Might come in useful some day,” he commented.
vicinitynounUS /vəˈsɪnəti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I should say they were made by a fairly big man.”
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints.
