used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
boded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ghostly sounds boded danger.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
boughnounUS /baʊ/
any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
crackingnounUS /ˈkrækɪŋ/
a sudden sharp noise
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading The ghostly sounds boded danger.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading The ghostly sounds boded danger.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
guardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
half-superstitious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
someone who hunts game
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
not any; not one
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
in the near future
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
remarkingverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
except for; apart from
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
soughingadjective
characterized by soft sounds
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The ghostly sounds boded danger.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Instantly he was on the alert, and presently his sharp eyes distinguished three dark bodies approaching the cave.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The giant hunter guarded the mouth of the cave alone until midnight.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He heard no noise save the voices of his friends below him, and the soughing of the forest trees.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
at the time that
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
a late time of life
From this reading The half-superstitious hunter had noted this, for years, and he was remarking it in a low tone when the cracking of a bough startled his trained senses.
