used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
ascertainverbUS /ˌæsərˈteɪn/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
bassnounUS /bæs/
the lowest part of the musical range
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
berriesnounUS /ˈberiz/
plural of “berry” — any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
chasingverbUS /ˈtʃeɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “chase” — go after with the intent to catch
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
someone who is a detective
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
drumnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
good-byenounUS /ɡɪdˈbaɪ/
a farewell remark
From this reading POACHING ON STRANGE PRESERVES “Oh! good-bye!”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
not divisible by two
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading POACHING ON STRANGE PRESERVES “Oh! good-bye!”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading POACHING ON STRANGE PRESERVES “Oh! good-bye!”
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
POACHINGnounUS /ˈpoʊtʃɪŋ/
cooking in simmering liquid
From this reading POACHING ON STRANGE PRESERVES “Oh! good-bye!”
PRESERVESnounUS /prəˈzɜːrvz/
fruit preserved by cooking with sugar
From this reading POACHING ON STRANGE PRESERVES “Oh! good-bye!”
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
move by turning over or rotating
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
squarelyadverbUS /ˈskwerli/
directly and without evasion; not roundabout
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading POACHING ON STRANGE PRESERVES “Oh! good-bye!”
carry out
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
in or at the place that
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the same time he listened, with his heart almost in his mouth, to ascertain whether the terrible animal were chasing after him.
the words that are spoken
From this reading As Dick gasped these two words he flung himself squarely around, and ran wildly.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The boy ran in the direction that would take him close to where his companions were busily engaged in picking berries.
an affirmative
From this reading Yes, he could catch that odd thumping sound so like the roll of a distant bass drum.
