used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
eagerly desirous
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading “Wait here for me, Bob,” Frank whispered.
the two together, not just one
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
dadnounUS /dæd/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “Just to see dad, and find out what’s doing.
decidingnounUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of reaching a decision
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “Just to see dad, and find out what’s doing.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “Just to see dad, and find out what’s doing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Wait here for me, Bob,” Frank whispered.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading “Wait here for me, Bob,” Frank whispered.
the act of departing
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Wait here for me, Bob,” Frank whispered.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
the act of retaining something
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
and nothing more
From this reading “Just to see dad, and find out what’s doing.
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 They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Wait here for me, Bob,” Frank whispered.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Just to see dad, and find out what’s doing.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
suspiciouslyadverbUS /səˈspɪʃəsli/
with suspicion
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
undoubtedlyadverbUS /ənˈdaʊtɪdli/
without doubt; certainly
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading “Wait here for me, Bob,” Frank whispered.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading They knew that, undoubtedly, those in charge of the expedition must have been holding a council of war, and deciding on the course to be carried out.
(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 “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
what's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Just to see dad, and find out what’s doing.
at the time that
From this reading A SURPRISE When half an hour had passed, both boys began to grow a little anxious.
in or at the place that
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading “Wait here for me, Bob,” Frank whispered.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Where are you going?” asked the other, suspiciously; for he wanted to be in any move, as well as did his chum.
