used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LETTER AND A SNAKE.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
(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 As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A LETTER AND A SNAKE.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
bicyclenounUS /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
complainverbUS /kəmˈpleɪn/
express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
divisible by two
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
highwaynounUS /ˈhaɪweɪ/
a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
lastedverbUS /ˈlæstəd/
past form of “last” — persist for a specified period of time
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading A LETTER AND A SNAKE.
provided with artificial light
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
not any; not one
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
Roy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
SNAKEnounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading A LETTER AND A SNAKE.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
vicinitynounUS /vəˈsɪnəti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading They even lit a bit of paper and threw it into the well, that they might see if the envelope had dropped into the water.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Our hero was already on his bicycle, and Roy had no cause to complain about the time made in returning to the vicinity of the old well.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The spot reached, they dismounted and commenced a search which lasted nearly an hour, covering every foot of ground for fifty feet around.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As a matter of fact, Joe fairly flew down the highway and he had all he could do to keep up with him.
