used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading No one seemed able to say a single word.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading No one seemed able to say a single word.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
bluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
gapeverbUS /ɡeɪp/
look with amazement; look stupidly
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
heavenwardadjective
directed toward heaven or the sky
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
kettlenounUS /ˈketəl/
a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
marvelousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
not any; not one
From this reading No one seemed able to say a single word.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one seemed able to say a single word.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
pluckedadjectiveUS /plʌkt/
of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
cut with a saw
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
express in words
From this reading No one seemed able to say a single word.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading No one seemed able to say a single word.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading No one seemed able to say a single word.
in the near future
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
having a supporting base
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
express in words
From this reading "Tell me about that!" gasped Jerry, as soon as he could catch his breath.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
push forcefully
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No one seemed able to say a single word.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
vegetationnounUS /ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃən/
all the plant life in a particular region or period
From this reading Now it had reached the level of the top of the bluff, and as they continued to gape, an arm was thrust hastily out from the rank vegetation that grew there; they saw eager fingers clutch the kettle, and then it was drawn from their sight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was as though an unseen hand had reached down and plucked the kettle from the rock to carry it heavenward.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Standing or crouching there, with staring eyes those four lads watched the marvelous ascent of their supper.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading No one seemed able to say a single word.
