used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
accumulationnounUS /əˌkjuːmjəˈleɪʃən/
an increase by natural growth or addition
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
anew
From this reading HOME AGAIN.
agilitynounUS /əˈdʒɪləti/
the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
chamoisnoun
a soft suede leather formerly from the skin of the chamois antelope but now from sheepskin
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
at any time
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspoʊzd/
with no protection or shield
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
foremannounUS /ˈfɔːrmən/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading HOME AGAIN.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
jamverbUS /dʒæm/
press tightly together or cram
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
key-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
for more time
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
lumberingnounUS /ˈlʌmbərɪŋ/
the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
lumberman'snounUS /ˈlʌmbərmænz/
possessive form of “lumberman” — a person who fells trees
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
not any; not one
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
on one occasion
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
surenessnoun
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
swiftnessnounUS /ˈswɪftnəs/
a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had been lumbering all his life, and there was nothing that fell to the lumberman's experience with which he was not perfectly familiar.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading For so large a man the foreman showed an agility that was really wonderful, as he leaped from log to log with the swiftness and sureness of a chamois.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The "key-piece" of the jam was fully exposed, and once it was cut in two it would no longer hold the accumulation of logs together.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet it is doubtful if he ever had a more difficult or dangerous task than that before him now.
