used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
anew
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
agilitynounUS /əˈdʒɪləti/
the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
being joined in close association
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
bull's-eyenoun
a lantern with a single opening and a sliding panel that can be closed to conceal the light
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
cordnounUS /kɔːrd/
a line made of twisted fibers or threads
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
approval
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
hauledverbUS /hɔːld/
past form of “haul” — draw slowly or heavily
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "Horton, hold your light over me.
Horton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Horton, hold your light over me.
HughesnounUS /hjuːz/
English poet (born in 1930)
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading "Horton, hold your light over me.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
Marvin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
on one occasion
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
Pickering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
a lightweight cord
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Pickering hauled in the string, attached Marvin's bull's-eye to it, and let it down again at once.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The pit was of great depth, as shown by the length of cord.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
you'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If you'd like to come down, Mr Hughes, you can follow me," he exclaimed, as he disappeared into the darkness.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading Then with an agility which would have done credit to a much younger man, he swung himself over on to the ladder.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Horton, hold your light over me.
