used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
anew
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
from appearances alone
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But in vain; I could not have done so without rousing them.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading But in vain; I could not have done so without rousing them.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
exultedverbUS /ɪɡˈzʌltɪd/
past form of “exult” — feel extreme happiness or elation
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
set up or found
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But in vain; I could not have done so without rousing them.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But in vain; I could not have done so without rousing them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
pretencenoun
a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
on the contrary
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
recapturedverbUS /riˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “recapture” — experience anew
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
determined
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
rousingadjectiveUS /ˈraʊzɪŋ/
capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement
From this reading But in vain; I could not have done so without rousing them.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
get by special effort
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
self-defencenounUS /ˌselfdɪˈfens/
the act of defending yourself
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But in vain; I could not have done so without rousing them.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
carry out
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
arousing affect
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading But in vain; I could not have done so without rousing them.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
at the time that
From this reading My heart exulted at the hope of freedom, but it sank again when I thought how easily I might be recaptured.
in or at the place that
From this reading I resolved, if possible, to get one of their guns, and if discovered to die in self-defence rather than be taken; and I tried several times to take one from under their heads, where they always secure them.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Seeing them apparently fast asleep, I tried different ways of finding out whether it was a pretence to see what I should do.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But after making a noise and walking about, sometimes touching them with my feet, I found that they really slept.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But in vain; I could not have done so without rousing them.
