used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
alighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
badgenounUS /bædʒ/
an emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.)
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
bloatedverbUS /ˈbloʊtɪd/
past form of “bloat” — become bloated or swollen or puff up
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
danglingnounUS /ˈdæŋɡəlɪŋ/
the act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely)
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
let fall to the ground
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
flabbyadjectiveUS /ˈflæbi/
out of condition; not strong or robust; incapable of exertion or endurance
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
harmless-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
limpverbUS /lɪmp/
walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
looselyadverbUS /ˈluːsli/
in a relaxed manner; not rigid
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
not one, and not any
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
QuincynounUS /ˈkwɪnsi/
American patriot who presented the colonists' grievances to the English king (1744-1775)
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
only a very short time before
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading This man had on some badge of office, but loosely, and not as if it gave him honor or in any way added to his dignity.
staturenounUS /ˈstætʃər/
high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
carry out
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
in or at that place or location
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With him there was another man of great stature, but harmless-looking, with flabby cheeks and bloated hands that seemed about to burst or drop to the ground, so limp and dangling did they appear.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
bound or secured closely
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
tremornounUS /ˈtremər/
an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
at the time that
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
which person or people
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
wide-eyedadjective
exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity
From this reading As I followed on, however, wide-eyed, I was thrown into a tremor of fright by the sight of the savage little man who had passed us on the road, who now stood as if awaiting our coming.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Scarce looking to the right or left, we hurried to the river to take the boat which lay tied to the shore, with steam up.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading In this way our long ride came to an end on the third day, when we alighted, none the worse for our journey, in the little town of Quincy.
