used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Jeff threw some wood on the fire and a shower of sparks floated into the air.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
armfulnoun
the quantity that can be contained in the arms
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
put or send forth
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
driftwoodnounUS /ˈdrɪftwʊd/
wood that is floating or that has been washed ashore
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
dumpedverbUS /dʌmpt/
past form of “dump” — throw away as refuse
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Jeff threw some wood on the fire and a shower of sparks floated into the air.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Jeff threw some wood on the fire and a shower of sparks floated into the air.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
Jeff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Jeff threw some wood on the fire and a shower of sparks floated into the air.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/
moving to a position on a surface
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
paddedadjectiveUS /ˈpædɪd/
softened by the addition of cushions or padding
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
PalnounUS /pæl/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading Jeff threw some wood on the fire and a shower of sparks floated into the air.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Jeff threw some wood on the fire and a shower of sparks floated into the air.
sparksnounUS /spɑːrks/
plural of “spark” — a momentary flash of light
From this reading Jeff threw some wood on the fire and a shower of sparks floated into the air.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The nights in mountain country are apt to be on the cool side."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Jeff threw some wood on the fire and a shower of sparks floated into the air.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
wanderverbUS /ˈwɑːndər/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
at the time that
From this reading He cast around for driftwood that the creek had thrown onto its banks and when he had an armful, he dumped it near the fire.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading "Now we have to get wood, Pal," Jeff told his new friend.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Always the dog padded beside or behind him, as though fearful he would lose this kind master should he wander more than a foot from him.
