adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
agreedadjectiveUS /əˈɡriːd/
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(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 The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
casenounUS /keɪs/
an occurrence of something
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
chancenounUS /tʃæns/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
cutverbUS /kʌt/
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The next two days passed quietly.
dealverbUS /diːl/
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
escapenounUS /ɪˈskeɪp/
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
HarryverbUS /ˈheri/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading “Some time tomorrow the messenger will return,” Harry said.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
ladsnounUS /lædz/
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
MalaysnounUS /məˈleɪz/
plural of “malay” — a member of a people inhabiting the northern Malay Peninsula and Malaysia and parts of the western Malay Archipelago
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
messengernounUS /ˈmesəndʒər/
a person who carries a message
From this reading “Some time tomorrow the messenger will return,” Harry said.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
movementnounUS /ˈmuːvmənt/
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next two days passed quietly.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No chance, however, presented itself.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The next two days passed quietly.
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading No chance, however, presented itself.
quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/
with low volume
From this reading The next two days passed quietly.
returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading “Some time tomorrow the messenger will return,” Harry said.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Some time tomorrow the messenger will return,” Harry said.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Some time tomorrow the messenger will return,” Harry said.
squatted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next two days passed quietly.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two Malays always squatted near them, and their eyes followed every movement.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Some time tomorrow the messenger will return,” Harry said.
tomorrownounUS /təˈmɑːroʊ/
the day after today
From this reading “Some time tomorrow the messenger will return,” Harry said.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The next two days passed quietly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Some time tomorrow the messenger will return,” Harry said.
worstnounUS /wɜːrst/
the least favorable outcome
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The lads were both a great deal better, and agreed that if--which would almost certainly not be the case--a means of escape should present itself, they would seize the chance, however hopeless it might be, for that at worst they could but be cut down in attempting it.
