used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TERRIBLE SECRET.
abductornounUS /æbˈdʌktər/
someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
fainteradjectiveUS /ˈfeɪntər/
comparative of “faint” — deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
immediately past
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
lessenverbUS /ˈlesən/
decrease in size, extent, or range
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
melodramaticadjectiveUS /ˌmelədrəˈmætɪk/
having the excitement and emotional appeal of melodrama
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
with speed
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading A TERRIBLE SECRET.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
self-defensenounUS /ˌselfdɪˈfens/
the act of defending yourself
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
sensationaladjectiveUS /senˈseɪʃənəl/
causing intense interest, curiosity, or emotion
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
shorteradjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtər/
comparative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
shrieknounUS /ʃriːk/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading A TERRIBLE SECRET.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
tighteradjectiveUS /ˈtaɪtər/
comparative of “tight” — closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading In vain she struggled and tried to shriek aloud for help; the heavy hand closed tighter down upon her month; her breath grew shorter and fainter, and at last, in sheer self-defense, she ceased to struggle or to try and raise an alarm.
VioletnounUS /ˈvaɪəlɪt/
any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was melodramatic; it was like a scene from a sensational novel; but this recollection did not lessen the poor girl’s terror.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At length, after what seemed an endless time, her abductor came to a halt, and she was placed upon her feet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
whitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/
an old word meaning “to where”
From this reading Violet felt herself borne rapidly away in the strong arms which held her; away, she knew not whither.
