used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
caciquenounUS /kəˈsiːk/
black-and-red or black-and-yellow orioles of the American tropics
From this reading The knife whipped past his shoulder, and the cacique nearly fell.
clawingverbUS /ˈklɔːɪŋ/
-ing form of “claw” — move as if by clawing, seizing, or digging
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The knife whipped past his shoulder, and the cacique nearly fell.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
gnarledadjectiveUS /nɑːrld/
used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The move saved him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
Kirby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The move saved him.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The knife whipped past his shoulder, and the cacique nearly fell.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
and nothing more
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The knife whipped past his shoulder, and the cacique nearly fell.
poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
with speed
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading The move saved him.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading The knife whipped past his shoulder, and the cacique nearly fell.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
squeaknounUS /skwiːk/
a short high-pitched noise
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But it had been a close enough squeak for all that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
a special situation
From this reading Kirby did the only thing he could do quickly--sprang to one side.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before Kirby was more than half set to fight, the priest was clawing at his throat, and a gnarled old fist was poised to drive the knife in a death stroke.
whippedverbUS /wɪpt/
inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading The knife whipped past his shoulder, and the cacique nearly fell.
