used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
(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 Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
allusionnounUS /əˈluːʒən/
passing reference or indirect mention
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
react verbally
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading He said: "It will be bad for your turkeys."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He said: "It will be bad for your turkeys."
Becca
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
uttered without voice
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
confidentialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnfəˈdenʃəl/
entrusted with private information and the confidence of another
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
deignverbUS /deɪn/
do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He said: "It will be bad for your turkeys."
ForgeverbUS /fɔːrdʒ/
create by hammering
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
the act of departing
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
hutsnounUS /hʌts/
plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "Why, Jack?
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
a large number or amount
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
narrationnounUS /neˈreɪʃən/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said: "It will be bad for your turkeys."
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
turkeysnounUS /ˈtɜːrkiz/
plural of “turkey” — large gallinaceous bird with fan-shaped tail; widely domesticated for food
From this reading He said: "It will be bad for your turkeys."
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
in or at the place that
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/
plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading He did not deign to answer, but in confidential whispers breathed it into her ears that "he had been down to the Forge.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, Jack?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He said: "It will be bad for your turkeys."
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Down to the Valley Forge, where General Washington was going to fetch down lots and lots of soldiers, and build log huts, and stay all Winter."
in the company of; together with
From this reading He ended his breathless narration with an allusion that made Becca jump as though she had seen a snake.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He said: "It will be bad for your turkeys."
