used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Snap was unarmed but he flung his hands out menacingly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
anything that covers or conceals
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Snap was unarmed but he flung his hands out menacingly.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Snap was unarmed but he flung his hands out menacingly.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Snap was unarmed but he flung his hands out menacingly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Snap was unarmed but he flung his hands out menacingly.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
judgedverbUS /dʒʌdʒd/
past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
MartiannounUS /ˈmɑːrʃən/
imaginary people who live on the planet Mars
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
menacingadjectiveUS /ˈmenəsɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading The thing menacing us was revealed!
menacinglyadverbUS /ˈmenəsɪŋli/
in a menacing manner
From this reading Snap was unarmed but he flung his hands out menacingly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Snap was unarmed but he flung his hands out menacingly.
by chance
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading The thing menacing us was revealed!
safeguardnounUS /ˈseɪfɡɑːrd/
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
SnapverbUS /snæp/
utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading Snap was unarmed but he flung his hands out menacingly.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The thing menacing us was revealed!
for that reason; as a result
From this reading A human figure, seven feet tall at the least, and therefore, I judged, a Martian man.
a special situation
From this reading The thing menacing us was revealed!
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading A figure in a black cloak, crouching thirty feet away across the corridor.
unarmedadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːrmd/
(used of persons or the military) not having or using arms
From this reading Snap was unarmed but he flung his hands out menacingly.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The thing menacing us was revealed!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The thing menacing us was revealed!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The figure, which may perhaps not have been aware of our city safeguard, was taken wholly by surprise.
