used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
afore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We had better look for shelter there afore we think of eating."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are right," said Robert Menden.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "We had better look for shelter there afore we think of eating."
make by combining materials and parts
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
cookingnounUS /ˈkʊkɪŋ/
the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
Danny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
downpournounUS /ˈdaʊnpɔːr/
a heavy rain
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
the act of consuming food
From this reading "We had better look for shelter there afore we think of eating."
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
JacobnounUS /ˈdʒeɪkəb/
French biochemist who (with Jacques Monod) studied regulatory processes in cells (born in 1920)
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "We had better look for shelter there afore we think of eating."
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
Menden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You are right," said Robert Menden.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
not any; not one
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
oncomingadjectiveUS /ˈɔːnkʌmɪŋ/
moving toward one
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
overhangingverbUS /ˈoʊvərhæŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
preparatoryadjectiveUS /prɪˈperətɔːri/
preceding and preparing for something
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "You are right," said Robert Menden.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading "You are right," said Robert Menden.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading "We had better look for shelter there afore we think of eating."
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "We had better look for shelter there afore we think of eating."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We had better look for shelter there afore we think of eating."
in the company of; together with
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are right," said Robert Menden.
