used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He had thought he was quite alone there.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
apprehensivelyadverb
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
Carthew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
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 WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
DovenounUS /dʌv/
any of numerous small pigeons
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading The evening was drawing in.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening was drawing in.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
a long fixed look
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had thought he was quite alone there.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
temporary military shelter
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The evening was drawing in.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He went round outside the hut to see what that stealthy shape might be.
in motion
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading He went round outside the hut to see what that stealthy shape might be.
plateaunounUS /plæˈtoʊ/
a relatively flat highland
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He had thought he was quite alone there.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
rustlingnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
cut with a saw
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He went round outside the hut to see what that stealthy shape might be.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading He went round outside the hut to see what that stealthy shape might be.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
the season of growth
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading He went round outside the hut to see what that stealthy shape might be.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had thought he was quite alone there.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had thought he was quite alone there.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
tree-trunks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He heard a sudden rustling not far away, and saw Captain Dove spring up from behind a bush to gaze about apprehensively.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The evening was drawing in.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went round outside the hut to see what that stealthy shape might be.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He went round outside the hut to see what that stealthy shape might be.
a Caucasian
From this reading THE WHITE LADY As Carthew, at the brink of the smooth plateau before the hut on the cliffs looked round instinctively, he caught sight of a tall white shadow that seemed to be moving toward him through the gloom among the tree-trunks.
