used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading From this position of advantage he had disabled Rap, the machine gunner, and wounded Hamsa.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
disablednounUS /dɪˈseɪbəld/
people collectively who are crippled or otherwise physically handicapped
From this reading From this position of advantage he had disabled Rap, the machine gunner, and wounded Hamsa.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Don’t move!”
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
the organ of sight
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From this position of advantage he had disabled Rap, the machine gunner, and wounded Hamsa.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
gunnernounUS /ˈɡʌnər/
a serviceman in the artillery
From this reading From this position of advantage he had disabled Rap, the machine gunner, and wounded Hamsa.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
Hamsa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
huskyadjectiveUS /ˈhʌski/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
limpverbUS /lɪmp/
walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading From this position of advantage he had disabled Rap, the machine gunner, and wounded Hamsa.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Don’t move!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading From this position of advantage he had disabled Rap, the machine gunner, and wounded Hamsa.
RapnounUS /ræp/
a reproach for some lapse or misdeed
From this reading From this position of advantage he had disabled Rap, the machine gunner, and wounded Hamsa.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
reeledverbUS /riːld/
past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
cut with a saw
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading From this position of advantage he had disabled Rap, the machine gunner, and wounded Hamsa.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
the act of using
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Before he could use it, there was another explosion and Hamsa reeled back against the wall, his right arm hanging limp and useless, the gun which it had held falling to the floor.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading Hamsa whirled toward the officers, a gun in his right hand.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The command was low and husky, but there was authority in the words and Bob, out of the corner of one eye, saw his uncle step out of the small room to the rear.
people who are wounded
From this reading From this position of advantage he had disabled Rap, the machine gunner, and wounded Hamsa.
