used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
anew
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
from appearances alone
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
availverbUS /əˈveɪl/
use to one's advantage
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
Benson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
brought into existence
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
one or the other of two
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
a movement into or inward
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
fishingnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
the act of someone who fishes as a diversion
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
and nothing more
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
go away from a place
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
not any; not one
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
pickerelnounUS /ˈpɪkərəl/
flesh of young or small pike
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
PondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
with speed
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
reptilenounUS /ˈreptaɪl/
any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia including tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, and extinct forms
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The return game with the Benson nine provided another day of interest and Walter greatly enjoyed the experience.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
an educational institution
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
temptingadjectiveUS /ˈtemptɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading ENTERING SCHOOL The summer days passed rapidly and Walter spent many of them in the company of Dan.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
weedsnounUS /wiːdz/
a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
at the time that
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading One day while they were fishing on Six Town Pond the great snake was seen again and after a struggle was killed, though just why either of the boys wanted to kill the harmless reptile neither could have explained.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “He had no business to be born a snake if he wanted to stay here,” Dan said with cheerful assurance and as if his explanation was sufficient.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There were days when the fishing was excellent and other times when the efforts of the boys apparently were without avail in tempting the pickerel which hid among the weeds and refused to leave their shelter.
