used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
quickly and without warning
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A sound had come at last!
according with custom or propriety
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The unmistakable sound of some one moving cautiously through close-pressing branches and crowded leaves.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading The unmistakable sound of some one moving cautiously through close-pressing branches and crowded leaves.
close-pressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unmistakable sound of some one moving cautiously through close-pressing branches and crowded leaves.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A sound had come at last!
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The unmistakable sound of some one moving cautiously through close-pressing branches and crowded leaves.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
being one more than ten
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
not accessible to view
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
immediately past
From this reading A sound had come at last!
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The unmistakable sound of some one moving cautiously through close-pressing branches and crowded leaves.
held up in the air
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
in motion
From this reading The unmistakable sound of some one moving cautiously through close-pressing branches and crowded leaves.
not any; not one
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
outstretchedadjectiveUS /aʊtˈstretʃt/
fully extended especially in length
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
with low volume
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The unmistakable sound of some one moving cautiously through close-pressing branches and crowded leaves.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
not in physical motion
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
suckedverbUS /sʌkt/
past form of “suck” — draw into the mouth by creating a practical vacuum in the mouth
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
thirdsnounUS /θɜːrdz/
plural of “third” — one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The unmistakable sound of some one moving cautiously through close-pressing branches and crowded leaves.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
unmistakableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbəl/
clearly evident to the mind
From this reading The unmistakable sound of some one moving cautiously through close-pressing branches and crowded leaves.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Two minutes passed--three--five--half a dozen, and still all was as it had been in the beginning.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading By this time this slow, cautious creeping had carried him over two thirds of the distance, and he was now within ten or eleven feet of the hidden gate; and still no sound or sign of the woman's return.
but in spite of that
From this reading Indeed, no sound of any sort until, with one hand outstretched and one knee lifted to edge forward yet a trifle more, he paused abruptly, sucked in his breath, and huddled softly down, becoming but a mere dark heap on the damp, dark grass.
