used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
(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 He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
from appearances alone
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
boltnounUS /boʊlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It can't be," he told himself.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
the first light of day
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
set up or found
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
fruitlessadjectiveUS /ˈfruːtləs/
unproductive of success
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "It can't be," he told himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It can't be," he told himself.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
mammothadjectiveUS /ˈmæməθ/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
on the contrary
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
soundlyadverbUS /ˈsaʊndli/
deeply or completely
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
streaknounUS /striːk/
an unbroken series of events
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
suddennessnounUS /ˈsʌdənnəs/
the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "It can't be," he told himself.
the upper part of anything
From this reading In his cave near the top of the mountain, Johnny slept soundly.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
(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 Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
at the time that
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading But the first faint streak of dawn found him wide awake and staring up at the stone that formed the roof of the cave.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had been engaged in this rather fruitless occupation for a full ten minutes, when, with a suddenness that might have been startling to an observer, he sat bolt upright to stare with all his eyes at some object far back in the cave.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Well he might stare, for there, but half revealed by the dim light, apparently suspended from the roof of the cave, was what appeared to be a mammoth dull yellow and green snake.
