used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were a number of bones strewn about, too.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There could be no question that there had once been a camp-fire here.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading She laughed now as she bent over to examine the spot.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
camp-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There could be no question that there had once been a camp-fire here.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
examineverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading She laughed now as she bent over to examine the spot.
explorationnounUS /ˌeksplərˈeɪʃən/
to travel for the purpose of discovery
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
made afraid
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading There could be no question that there had once been a camp-fire here.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading She laughed now as she bent over to examine the spot.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
magnetnounUS /ˈmæɡnət/
(physics) a device that attracts iron and produces a magnetic field
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
MarianadjectiveUS /ˈmeriən/
of or relating to or venerating the Virgin Mary
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
of an obscure nature
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
not any; not one
From this reading There could be no question that there had once been a camp-fire here.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She laughed now as she bent over to examine the spot.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading There were a number of bones strewn about, too.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
on one occasion
From this reading There could be no question that there had once been a camp-fire here.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She laughed now as she bent over to examine the spot.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading There could be no question that there had once been a camp-fire here.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
having a supporting base
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
successive (without a break)
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading There were a number of bones strewn about, too.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There could be no question that there had once been a camp-fire here.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There were a number of bones strewn about, too.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were a number of bones strewn about, too.
in or at the place that
From this reading As if drawn by a magnet, she led the way straight to the spot where but a few hours before she had been so frightened by finding herself standing in the burned out ashes and bones of an old camp-fire.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a hand that trembled slightly, Marian held the candle that was to light their way in the exploration of the mysterious mountain cavern.
