used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But only for a moment.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
arrownounUS /ˈæroʊ/
a mark to indicate a direction or relation
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
Bomba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But only for a moment.
caymannounUS /ˈkeɪmən/
a semiaquatic reptile of Central and South America that resembles an alligator but has a more heavily armored belly
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
JAWSnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
staying power
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
a particular point in time
From this reading But only for a moment.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
and nothing more
From this reading But only for a moment.
paralyzedadjectiveUS /ˈperəlaɪzd/
affected with paralysis
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
self-preservationnoun
preservation of yourself from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The next instant the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and he shot forward like an arrow.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
a special situation
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Strength seemed suddenly to have left his arms and legs.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH At sight of the cayman, Bomba, for one awful instant, felt as though he were paralyzed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew he could not reach the shore before the dreadful thing would be upon him.
