used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
(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 And yet I couldn’t have heard it at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And yet I couldn’t have heard it at all.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading “I could have sworn I heard a heavy body crashing through the brush.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading “I could have sworn I heard a heavy body crashing through the brush.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
combedadjectiveUS /koʊmd/
(of hair) made tidy with a comb
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “I could have sworn I heard a heavy body crashing through the brush.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And yet I couldn’t have heard it at all.
crashingadjectiveUS /ˈkræʃɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading “I could have sworn I heard a heavy body crashing through the brush.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
set up or found
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I could have sworn I heard a heavy body crashing through the brush.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading “I could have sworn I heard a heavy body crashing through the brush.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I could have sworn I heard a heavy body crashing through the brush.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And yet I couldn’t have heard it at all.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
MollienounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
morning'snounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
possessive form of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
easily agitated
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
not any; not one
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
person'snounUS /ˈpɜːrsənz/
possessive form of “person” — a human being
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
participate in games or sport
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
PROWLERnounUS /ˈpraʊlər/
someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
scareverbUS /sker/
cause fear in
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
a person, without saying who
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
stealthilyadverb
in a stealthy manner
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
swornadjectiveUS /swɔːrn/
bound by or as if by an oath
From this reading “I could have sworn I heard a heavy body crashing through the brush.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading After the first scare, they had combed the woods thoroughly in the direction of the noise that Mollie thought she had heard, but had found nothing--and no one.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
uneasinessnounUS /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/
feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THE PROWLER So sure had Mollie been that she had heard a sound like somebody creeping stealthily through the woods that for a long time she was uncomfortable and nervous, though she strove to hide her uneasiness from Grace.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading “Funny how a person’s ears can play strange tricks sometimes,” said Mollie, as, their morning’s work done, they wandered down toward the little brook.
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet I couldn’t have heard it at all.
