used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
a youthful male person
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading In the swamp were numerous other bushes, with here and there tufts of coarse swamp grass.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
diameternounUS /daɪˈæmətər/
the length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference
From this reading This present swamp was perhaps a quarter of a mile in diameter.
being one more than seven
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
divisible by two
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
a young female
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading In the swamp were numerous other bushes, with here and there tufts of coarse swamp grass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading In the swamp were numerous other bushes, with here and there tufts of coarse swamp grass.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
huckleberrynounUS /ˈhʌk.əlˌber.i/
A small edible dark blue or black berry, or the famous literary character Huck Finn.
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
inanimateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnænəmət/
belonging to the class of nouns denoting nonliving things
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
loadsnounUS /loʊdz/
a large number or amount
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
mid-summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading This present swamp was perhaps a quarter of a mile in diameter.
monsternounUS /ˈmɑːnstər/
an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading In the swamp were numerous other bushes, with here and there tufts of coarse swamp grass.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In the swamp were numerous other bushes, with here and there tufts of coarse swamp grass.
by chance
From this reading This present swamp was perhaps a quarter of a mile in diameter.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading This present swamp was perhaps a quarter of a mile in diameter.
established beyond doubt
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
one of four equal parts
From this reading This present swamp was perhaps a quarter of a mile in diameter.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
sturdyadjectiveUS /ˈstɜːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
confined on all sides
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This present swamp was perhaps a quarter of a mile in diameter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A REMEMBERED FACE The next half hour proved to the three chums to be little less than a nightmare.
treacherousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
tuftsnounUS /tʌfts/
plural of “tuft” — a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading In the swamp were numerous other bushes, with here and there tufts of coarse swamp grass.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the swamp were numerous other bushes, with here and there tufts of coarse swamp grass.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They had heard before of the treacherousness of a huckleberry swamp--there was such a swamp near their homes in which a boy and a girl had lost their lives--but never before had they realized what an inanimate monster such a swamp could be.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It lay low near one end of the island and was surrounded by huckleberry bushes from four to seven and even eight feet in height--sturdy bushes that in mid-summer bent low with their loads of fruit.
