used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
achedverbUS /eɪkt/
past form of “ache” — feel physical pain
From this reading Nod's head ached; his shoulder burned and throbbed.
anew
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nod's head ached; his shoulder burned and throbbed.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
for the reason that
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
blinkingadjectiveUS /ˈblɪŋkɪŋ/
closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
confined by bonds
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading Nod's head ached; his shoulder burned and throbbed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
carcassnounUS /ˈkɑːrkəs/
the dead body of an animal especially one slaughtered and dressed for food
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
opinion or judgment
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
start firing a weapon
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
set up or found
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
in a gradual manner
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
hasteningverbUS /ˈheɪsənɪŋ/
-ing form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Nod's head ached; his shoulder burned and throbbed.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
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 When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
NodverbUS /nɑːd/
express or signify by nodding
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
Nod's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nod's head ached; his shoulder burned and throbbed.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
precisely, exactly
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He looked around him as best he could, but at first could see nothing, because of the brightness of the flames.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Nod's head ached; his shoulder burned and throbbed.
sleepilyadverbUS /ˈsliːpəli/
in a sleepy manner
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
smeltnounUS /smelt/
small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
spitverbUS /spɪt/
expel or eject (saliva or phlegm or sputum) from the mouth
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
sputteringnounUS /ˈspʌtərɪŋ/
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
swathedverbUS /swɑːðd/
past form of “swathe” — wrap in swaddling clothes
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
throbbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nod's head ached; his shoulder burned and throbbed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
having come into contact
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
at the time that
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When Nod opened his eyes again, he found himself blinking right into the middle of a blazing fire, over which hung sputtering a huddled carcass on a long black spit.
a Caucasian
From this reading Gradually he perceived small grey creatures, with big heads and white hands, that reached almost to the ground, hastening to and fro.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He touched it gently, and found that it was swathed and bound up with leaves that smelt sleepily sweet and cool.
