used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
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 Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
automaticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
next to; at the side of
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
boredadjectiveUS /bɔːrd/
tired of the world
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading The woman slipped down upon the floor and Jules crouched over the wheel.
DelormenounUS /deˈlɔːrmi/
French royal architect who built the Tuileries Palace and Gardens in Paris for Catherine de Medicis (1515-1570)
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The woman slipped down upon the floor and Jules crouched over the wheel.
drivernounUS /ˈdraɪvər/
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
fingeredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪŋɡərd/
having or resembling a finger or fingers; often used in combination
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The woman slipped down upon the floor and Jules crouched over the wheel.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
hamperverbUS /ˈhæmpər/
prevent the progress or free movement of
From this reading Instead, he turned to the lunch hamper and opened it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
the act of retaining something
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
an opening into or through something
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
hopingverbUS /ˈhoʊpɪŋ/
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead, he turned to the lunch hamper and opened it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Instead, he turned to the lunch hamper and opened it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
Jules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
LanyardnounUS /ˈlænjərd/
a cord with an attached hook that is used to fire certain types of cannon
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
Liane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
take the midday meal
From this reading Instead, he turned to the lunch hamper and opened it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
a particular point in time
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/
moving to a position on a surface
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Instead, he turned to the lunch hamper and opened it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The woman slipped down upon the floor and Jules crouched over the wheel.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
presumablyadverbUS /prəˈzuːməbli/
by reasonable assumption
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
punctureverbUS /ˈpʌŋktʃər/
pierce with a pointed object; make a hole into
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
quarrynounUS /ˈkwɔːri/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading The woman slipped down upon the floor and Jules crouched over the wheel.
steadyingadjective
causing to become steady
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A bullet bored a neat hole through the windshield between the heads of Liane Delorme and Jules.
tiresnounUS /ˈtaɪərz/
plural of “tire” — hoop that covers a wheel
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Instead, he turned to the lunch hamper and opened it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The woman slipped down upon the floor and Jules crouched over the wheel.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading The woman slipped down upon the floor and Jules crouched over the wheel.
at the time that
From this reading Lanyard fingered his automatic but held its fire against a moment when he could be more sure of his arm.
windshieldnounUS /ˈwɪndʃiːld/
transparent screen (as of glass) to protect occupants of a vehicle
From this reading In the seat beside the driver of the grey car a man rose and, steadying himself by holding onto the windshield, poured out the contents of an automatic, presumably hoping to puncture the tires of the quarry.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The woman slipped down upon the floor and Jules crouched over the wheel.
