used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a move, Murphy!
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
astoundedadjectiveUS /əˈstaʊndɪd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
barrelnounUS /ˈbærəl/
a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
let fall to the ground
From this reading I have the drop!"
opinion or judgment
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
a boy or man
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
flingingverbUS /ˈflɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
Hampton'snounUS /ˈhæmptənz/
possessive form of “hampton” — United States musician who was the first to use the vibraphone as a jazz instrument (1913-2002)
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading "Hands up!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have the drop!"
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
hipnounUS /hɪp/
either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have the drop!"
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
not in physical motion
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Not a move, Murphy!
MurphynounUS /ˈmɜːrfi/
an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
muzzlenounUS /ˈmʌzəl/
the open circular discharging end of a gun
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
not any; not one
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a move, Murphy!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
sputteringnounUS /ˈspʌtərɪŋ/
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
thrustingnounUS /ˈθrʌstɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Hands up!
communicated in words
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
VERGEnounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading THE VERGE OF CONFESSION Murphy uttered one sputtering cry of surprise, flinging his hand instinctively to his hip, but attempted no more.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Hampton's ready weapon was thrusting its muzzle into the astounded face, and the gray eyes gleaming along the polished barrel held the fellow motionless.
