used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
anew
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading Then he heard the whining buzz of his attempted prey.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
beetlenounUS /ˈbiːtəl/
insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
From this reading There was something wrong with the beetle.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
BurlnounUS /bɜːrl/
the wood cut from a tree burl or outgrowth; often used decoratively in veneer
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
Burl's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
buzzverbUS /bʌz/
make a buzzing sound
From this reading Then he heard the whining buzz of his attempted prey.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
erraticadjectiveUS /ɪˈrætɪk/
liable to sudden unpredictable change
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
half-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
headforemost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Then he heard the whining buzz of his attempted prey.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
impactnounUS /ˌɪmˈpækt/
the striking of one body against another
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
mushroom-stalk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
powderingverbUS /ˈpaʊdərɪŋ/
-ing form of “powder” — make into a powder by breaking up or cause to become dust
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading Then he heard the whining buzz of his attempted prey.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
rocketingverbUS /ˈrɑːkətɪŋ/
-ing form of “rocket” — shoot up abruptly, like a rocket
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
Sexton-Beetles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something wrong with the beetle.
spearnounUS /spɪr/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
splitverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
spongyadjectiveUS /ˈspʌndʒi/
easily squashed; resembling a sponge in having soft porous texture and compressibility
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
sporesnounUS /spɔːrz/
plural of “spore” — a small usually single-celled asexual reproductive body produced by many nonflowering plants and fungi and some bacteria and protozoans and that are capable of developing into a new individual without sexual fusion
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he heard the whining buzz of his attempted prey.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
toadstoolnoun
common name for an inedible or poisonous agaric (contrasting with the edible mushroom)
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
directed up
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was something wrong with the beetle.
whiningverbUS /ˈwaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “whine” — move with a whining sound
From this reading Then he heard the whining buzz of his attempted prey.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Sexton-Beetles Burl fell headforemost upon the spongy top of a huge toadstool that split with the impact and let him through to the ground beneath, powdering him with its fine spores.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading There was something wrong with the beetle.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Burl's spear had struck it in an awkward spot, and it was rocketing upward in erratic flight that ended in a crash two or three hundreds yards away.
yieldingadjectiveUS /ˈjiːldɪŋ/
inclined to yield to argument or influence or control
From this reading He came to rest with his naked shoulder half-way through the yielding flesh of a mushroom-stalk, and lay there for a second, catching his breath to scream again.
