used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Elspeth and I shook with fear.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
the lower side of anything
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
bristlingverbUS /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bristle” — be in a state of movement or action
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading My uncle was death-white, but stood strangely brooding.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading My uncle was death-white, but stood strangely brooding.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
death-white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My uncle was death-white, but stood strangely brooding.
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 Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
Elspeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Elspeth and I shook with fear.
at any time
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Aunt Elspeth and I shook with fear.
fearsomeadjectiveUS /ˈfɪrsəm/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
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 his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
mouthingverbUS /ˈmaʊðɪŋ/
-ing form of “mouth” — express in speech
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My uncle was death-white, but stood strangely brooding.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
not any; not one
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
nosingverbUS /ˈnoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “nose” — search or inquire in a meddlesome way
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
pluckedadjectiveUS /plʌkt/
of a stringed instrument; sounded with the fingers or a plectrum
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
Rory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Aunt Elspeth and I shook with fear.
move stealthily
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
snarlingverbUS /ˈsnɑːrlɪŋ/
-ing form of “snarl” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
snoutnounUS /snaʊt/
a long projecting or anterior elongation of an animal's head; especially the nose
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading My uncle was death-white, but stood strangely brooding.
in a strange manner
From this reading My uncle was death-white, but stood strangely brooding.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading My uncle was death-white, but stood strangely brooding.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My uncle was death-white, but stood strangely brooding.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He had his right elbow upon his breast, and supported it with his left arm, while with his right hand he plucked at his beard.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He dashed himself against the door, snarling and mouthing, with his snout nosing the narrow slip at the bottom.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading Suddenly the dog made a leap forward--a terrible bristling wolf he seemed to me, though no wolf had I ever seen, or imagined any more fearsome, than Rory, now.
