used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _The Weightless Combat_ I was taken wholly by surprise.
checkedadjectiveUS /tʃekt/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading He checked his forward rush.
CombatnounUS /ˈkɑːmbæt/
an engagement fought between two military forces
From this reading _The Weightless Combat_ I was taken wholly by surprise.
cylindernounUS /ˈsɪləndər/
a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases)
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Miko was no more than twenty feet from me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He checked his forward rush.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Miko was no more than twenty feet from me.
fumblingadjectiveUS /ˈfʌmbəlɪŋ/
showing lack of skill or aptitude
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He checked his forward rush.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He checked his forward rush.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _The Weightless Combat_ I was taken wholly by surprise.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Miko was no more than twenty feet from me.
Miko
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miko was no more than twenty feet from me.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Miko was no more than twenty feet from me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
not any; not one
From this reading Miko was no more than twenty feet from me.
numbedverbUS /nʌmd/
past form of “numb” — make numb or insensitive
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
paralyzingverbUS /ˈperəlaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “paralyze” — make powerless and unable to function
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
projectornounUS /prəˈdʒektər/
an optical device for projecting a beam of light
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
move hurridly
From this reading He checked his forward rush.
cut with a saw
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
be standing; be upright
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading _The Weightless Combat_ I was taken wholly by surprise.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading _The Weightless Combat_ I was taken wholly by surprise.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Miko was no more than twenty feet from me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Weightless Combat_ I was taken wholly by surprise.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
tubenounUS /tuːb/
conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases
From this reading The light from an overhead tube was on him; I saw in his hand the cylinder projector of his paralyzing ray.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Miko was no more than twenty feet from me.
undecidedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈsaɪdɪd/
not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _The Weightless Combat_ I was taken wholly by surprise.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
WeightlessadjectiveUS /ˈweɪtləs/
having little or no weight or apparent gravitational pull; light
From this reading _The Weightless Combat_ I was taken wholly by surprise.
at the time that
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading There was an instant when I stood numbed, fumbling for a weapon at my belt, undecided whether to run or stand my ground.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading _The Weightless Combat_ I was taken wholly by surprise.
