used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
ENCOUNTERverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
a long fixed look
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading He knew that a tiger is usually hunted with a heavy rifle.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
huntedadjectiveUS /ˈhʌntəd/
reflecting the fear or terror of one who is hunted
From this reading He knew that a tiger is usually hunted with a heavy rifle.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He knew that a tiger is usually hunted with a heavy rifle.
Jack'snounUS /dʒæks/
possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew that a tiger is usually hunted with a heavy rifle.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
a particular point in time
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
pistolsnounUS /ˈpɪstəlz/
plural of “pistol” — a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading He knew that a tiger is usually hunted with a heavy rifle.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
slayverbUS /sleɪ/
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
sniffingverbUS /ˈsnɪfɪŋ/
-ing form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
suspiciouslyadverbUS /səˈspɪʃəsli/
with suspicion
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
TIGERnounUS /ˈtaɪɡər/
a fierce or audacious person
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
under normal conditions
From this reading He knew that a tiger is usually hunted with a heavy rifle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was sniffing his way along the deck, pausing every second or two to gaze around suspiciously.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TIGER For the moment Jack’s heart seemed to stop beating.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The young major had one of the pistols with him, and he wondered if that weapon would be powerful enough to slay the beast.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The tiger looked to be young but powerful, and had evidently broken from his cage in a search for food.
