used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
at or in the front
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
move towards
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
bendverbUS /bend/
form a curve
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
(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 Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
dashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
one or the other of two
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
extinguishedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was the first time his nerve had been really shaken, but it was shaken now.
flashlightsnounUS /ˈflæʃlaɪts/
plural of “flashlight” — a small portable battery-powered electric lamp
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading One of two things must have happened.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One of two things must have happened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
lashedverbUS /læʃt/
past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
lurkingverbUS /ˈlɜːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
the force of workers available
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading One of two things must have happened.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading It was the first time his nerve had been really shaken, but it was shaken now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was the first time his nerve had been really shaken, but it was shaken now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of two things must have happened.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
panickyadjectiveUS /ˈpænɪki/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
by chance
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading It was the first time his nerve had been really shaken, but it was shaken now.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading It was the first time his nerve had been really shaken, but it was shaken now.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading One of two things must have happened.
thornyadjectiveUS /ˈθɔːrni/
bristling with perplexities
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was the first time his nerve had been really shaken, but it was shaken now.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
two times
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading One of two things must have happened.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The latter was perhaps the more likely; but it was the possibility that they had heard him and were lurking ahead in the darkness, awaiting his approach, that turned him cold.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Either the flashlights had been extinguished, or else the men had passed around a bend which hid the sight of them from view.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Steve fell twice and a thorny branch lashed him across the face with painful force before he got the better of that panicky dash.
