used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Westy’s life and the lives of his comrades seemed to hang on a thread.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
EdnounUS /ed/
impotence resulting from a man's inability to have or maintain an erection of his penis
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
destroyed or killed
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
be suspended or hanging
From this reading Westy’s life and the lives of his comrades seemed to hang on a thread.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Westy’s life and the lives of his comrades seemed to hang on a thread.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Westy’s life and the lives of his comrades seemed to hang on a thread.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Westy’s life and the lives of his comrades seemed to hang on a thread.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Westy’s life and the lives of his comrades seemed to hang on a thread.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
PREDICAMENTnounUS /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
in the near future
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Westy’s life and the lives of his comrades seemed to hang on a thread.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And what then?
in or at that place or location
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading Westy’s life and the lives of his comrades seemed to hang on a thread.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
Warde
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Warde and Ed had probably not succeeded in catching any fish and a fire was therefore useless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DESPERATE PREDICAMENT The peril from visible smoke was gone, but there was small comfort in this.
Westy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Westy’s life and the lives of his comrades seemed to hang on a thread.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And what then?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Presently one or other of them would shout or come to investigate.
