used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading For several minutes no word had passed between them.
buoyverbUS /ˈbuːi/
float on the surface of water
From this reading He was afraid to buoy her up with empty words that would end in nothing.
an occurrence of something
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
cleftnounUS /kleft/
a split or indentation in something (as the palate or chin)
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading He was afraid to buoy her up with empty words that would end in nothing.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He was afraid to buoy her up with empty words that would end in nothing.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For several minutes no word had passed between them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
Grover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For several minutes no word had passed between them.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was afraid to buoy her up with empty words that would end in nothing.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
in order that something should not happen
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
Madeline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading For several minutes no word had passed between them.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
not any; not one
From this reading For several minutes no word had passed between them.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He was afraid to buoy her up with empty words that would end in nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading For several minutes no word had passed between them.
PERILOUSadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
prostrateverbUS /ˈprɑːstreɪt/
get into a prostrate position, as in submission
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
precisely, exactly
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
Rufus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several minutes no word had passed between them.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was afraid to ask any more questions lest she should hear from his lips that her case was hopeless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For several minutes no word had passed between them.
push forcefully
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was afraid to buoy her up with empty words that would end in nothing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A PERILOUS TASK Rufus reached a point at length from which he was able to look down on the prostrate figure of Madeline Grover.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was lying almost flat on her face, with her right hand thrust into a cleft of the rock.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading For several minutes no word had passed between them.
the words that are spoken
From this reading He was afraid to buoy her up with empty words that would end in nothing.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was afraid to buoy her up with empty words that would end in nothing.
