used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/
moving forward
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
react verbally
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
of short duration or distance
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
made afraid
From this reading WHAT FRIGHTENED NELLIE.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
held dear
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
NELLIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT FRIGHTENED NELLIE.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
not any; not one
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
being perceived or observed
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
repeatedlyadverbUS /rɪˈpiːtɪdli/
several time
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
Ribsam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Nick Ribsam thought not of himself, in his anxiety for his sister.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
precisely as stated
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT FRIGHTENED NELLIE.
at the time that
From this reading He had left her but a few brief minutes before, sitting on the shore of the lake, and now when he returned she was missing.
in or at the place that
From this reading He noticed that it was very hot where he stood, and there could be no doubt that the flames were advancing in that direction.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had called to her repeatedly without receiving any answer, and when he looked about him in the smoke and gloom, he could see nothing of her loved figure.
