used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The storm had already burst, and it was growing worse momentarily.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
Bert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The storm had already burst, and it was growing worse momentarily.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
cowardsnounUS /ˈkaʊərdz/
plural of “coward” — a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The storm had already burst, and it was growing worse momentarily.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The storm had already burst, and it was growing worse momentarily.
a small worthless amount
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
mazenounUS /meɪz/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
momentarilyadverbUS /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/
for an instant or moment
From this reading The storm had already burst, and it was growing worse momentarily.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
with speed
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
on the contrary
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The storm had already burst, and it was growing worse momentarily.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
not known
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Not that they were cowards, for they were not, and they had faced danger before, and were used to doing things for themselves.
a Caucasian
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading But now they were in a strange, mountain wilderness, following an unknown trail, and night was coming on rapidly.
the words that are spoken
From this reading THE DESERTED CABIN Bert’s words struck rather a chill to the hearts of his chums.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading The storm had already burst, and it was growing worse momentarily.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you really think we are lost?” questioned Jack, looking about him as well as he could in the maze of white.
