used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
alarminglyadverbUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋli/
in an alarming manner
From this reading He pressed me hard, but not alarmingly so.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading I then allowed him to coil himself round my body, and marched off with him as my lawful prize.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
exhale hard
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading I then allowed him to coil himself round my body, and marched off with him as my lawful prize.
the two together, not just one
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He pressed me hard, but not alarmingly so.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
coilnounUS /kɔɪl/
a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
From this reading I then allowed him to coil himself round my body, and marched off with him as my lawful prize.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
confoundedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaʊndɪd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
an old word for “before”
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He pressed me hard, but not alarmingly so.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
hissingnounUS /ˈhɪsɪŋ/
a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
jawsnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
lawfuladjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfəl/
conformable to or allowed by law
From this reading I then allowed him to coil himself round my body, and marched off with him as my lawful prize.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
libertiesnounUS /ˈlɪbərtiːz/
plural of “liberty” — immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
marchedverbUS /mɑːrtʃt/
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading I then allowed him to coil himself round my body, and marched off with him as my lawful prize.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I then allowed him to coil himself round my body, and marched off with him as my lawful prize.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
open-mouthed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
compacted by ironing
From this reading He pressed me hard, but not alarmingly so.
prizenounUS /praɪz/
something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery
From this reading I then allowed him to coil himself round my body, and marched off with him as my lawful prize.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading I then allowed him to coil himself round my body, and marched off with him as my lawful prize.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
shieldedadjectiveUS /ˈʃiːldɪd/
(used especially of machinery) protected by a shield to prevent injury
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He pressed me hard, but not alarmingly so.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
carry out
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading He was stunned and confounded by the blow, and ere he could recover himself I had seized his throat with both hands in such a position that he could not bite me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, within two feet of my face, and then with all the force I was master of I drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The snake instantly turned and came on at me, with his head about a yard from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take liberties with his tail.
