used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
alligatornounUS /ˈæləɡeɪtər/
leather made from alligator's hide
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
any thing at all
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
bewilderedadjectiveUS /bɪˈwɪldərd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
a state at a particular time
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
CummingsnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋz/
United States writer noted for his typographically eccentric poetry (1894-1962)
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
divisible by two
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was no necessity for the outcry.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
Jake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
materialsnounUS /məˈtɪriəlz/
plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
Neal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading There was no necessity for the outcry.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no necessity for the outcry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
outcrynounUS /ˈaʊtkraɪ/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading There was no necessity for the outcry.
on the contrary
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
snappedverbUS /snæpt/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
move hurridly
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
splashingnounUS /ˈsplæʃɪŋ/
the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
TeddynounUS /ˈtedi/
plaything consisting of a child's toy bear (usually plush and stuffed with soft materials)
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was no necessity for the outcry.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no necessity for the outcry.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
torchesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃɪz/
plural of “torch” — a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading The alligator had evidently snapped at his leg, and, missing his aim, had caught the boy's trousers rather than the flesh.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no necessity for the outcry.
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 The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
at the time that
From this reading When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
