used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
anew
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
anklenounUS /ˈæŋkəl/
a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
ascertainverbUS /ˌæsərˈteɪn/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
(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 It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
chagrinnounUS /ʃəˈɡrɪn/
strong feelings of embarrassment
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
despairinglyadverb
with desperation
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
ditchnounUS /dɪtʃ/
a long narrow excavation in the earth
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
flaredverbUS /flerd/
past form of “flare” — burn brightly
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
groannounUS /ɡroʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
hauledverbUS /hɔːld/
past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
be the source of pain
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
injurynounUS /ˈɪndʒəri/
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
a particular point in time
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
water soaked soil; soft wet earth
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
not any; not one
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
plasteredadjectiveUS /ˈplæstərd/
(of hair) made smooth by applying a sticky or glossy substance
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
recededverbUS /rəˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “recede” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
cut with a saw
From this reading As the lightning flared again, I saw his face for a moment, plastered with black mud, and furious with pain and chagrin.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
with low volume
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
sprainedverbUS /spreɪnd/
past form of “sprain” — twist suddenly so as to sprain
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
be standing; be upright
From this reading "I am hurt; it is my leg--my ankle; I cannot stand," he said despairingly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I groped my way across to him, hauled him out of the ditch, and felt his limbs to try to ascertain the extent of his injury.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
which person or people
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
in the company of; together with
From this reading NIGHT IN THE FOREST As the sounds of flight and pursuit receded, I crawled out of the ditch, and called softly to my companion, who answered me, from the other side of the road, with a groan and an oath.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading It might have been worse, for there were no broken bones, as I had feared at first; but he had a badly sprained ankle.
