used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
anew
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
Anstice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
associationnounUS /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/
a formal organization of people or groups of people
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
balancedadjectiveUS /ˈbælənst/
being in a state of proper equilibrium
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
beautifullyadverbUS /ˈbjuːtəfli/
in a beautiful manner
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading It was of dull blue Toledo steel, and its shapely haft was exquisitely silver-mounted.
bondsnounUS /bɑːndz/
plural of “bond” — an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
Boyd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
Coacoochee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
combatnounUS /ˈkɑːmbæt/
an engagement fought between two military forces
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
confiningadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnɪŋ/
restricting the scope or freedom of action
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
DouglassnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States abolitionist who escaped from slavery and became an influential writer and lecturer in the North (1817-1895)
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading It was of dull blue Toledo steel, and its shapely haft was exquisitely silver-mounted.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
endearedverbUS /enˈdiːrd/
past form of “endear” — make attractive or lovable
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
exquisitelyadverbUS /ˌekˈskwɪzɪtli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading It was of dull blue Toledo steel, and its shapely haft was exquisitely silver-mounted.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
forage-bag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
haftnounUS /hæft/
the handle of a weapon or tool
From this reading It was of dull blue Toledo steel, and its shapely haft was exquisitely silver-mounted.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
hunting-knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
Irwin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was of dull blue Toledo steel, and its shapely haft was exquisitely silver-mounted.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
Nita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
Osceola
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
razornounUS /ˈreɪzər/
edge tool used in shaving
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
severedadjectiveUS /ˈsevərd/
detached by cutting
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
shapelyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪpli/
having a well-proportioned and pleasing shape
From this reading It was of dull blue Toledo steel, and its shapely haft was exquisitely silver-mounted.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
silver-mounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of dull blue Toledo steel, and its shapely haft was exquisitely silver-mounted.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading It was of dull blue Toledo steel, and its shapely haft was exquisitely silver-mounted.
stoopverbUS /stuːp/
bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
strongholdnounUS /ˈstrɔːŋhoʊld/
a strongly fortified defensive structure
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
ToledonounUS /təˈliːdoʊ/
an industrial city in northwestern Ohio on Lake Erie
From this reading It was of dull blue Toledo steel, and its shapely haft was exquisitely silver-mounted.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
unfailingadjectiveUS /ənˈfeɪlɪŋ/
not liable to failure
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
communicated in words
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
well-triedadjective
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A DARING ESCAPE Not until his prison door was again closed, and the footsteps of his visitors had died away in the distance, did Coacoochee turn from listening, and stoop to see what it was that Nita had brought him.
at the time that
From this reading It had been his father's before him, and with it Anstice Boyd had severed the bonds confining Irwin Douglass, when his life hung by a thread, in the swamp stronghold of Osceola.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From under the forage-bag he first drew a Spanish hunting-knife, beautifully balanced, and with the keen edge of a razor.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading At sight of it the young Indian uttered an exclamation of joy, for it was his own well-tried weapon, endeared by long association, and his unfailing friend in many a combat with man and beast.
