used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Even while the excited Roger was speaking, Dick had acted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
have
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading No bear could stand that, Dick felt certain.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
carefully weighed
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
someone who is a detective
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
divisible by two
From this reading Even while the excited Roger was speaking, Dick had acted.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Even while the excited Roger was speaking, Dick had acted.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading No bear could stand that, Dick felt certain.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
hindquartersnounUS /ˈhaɪndkwɔːrtərz/
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
HOMESTEADnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
and nothing more
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
not any; not one
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
and nothing more
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
OVERprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even while the excited Roger was speaking, Dick had acted.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Even while the excited Roger was speaking, Dick had acted.
be standing; be upright
From this reading No bear could stand that, Dick felt certain.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
a special situation
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Of course the only thing that could be done in order to give the descending bear a fright was to fire a shot into his hindquarters at close range.
unpreparedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnpriˈperd/
without preparation; not prepared for
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A SHADOW OVER THE HOMESTEAD THERE was no such thing as catching Dick unprepared.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading No doubt he had before now considered just what should be done in such an emergency.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Even while the excited Roger was speaking, Dick had acted.
