(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But he did not quite unclasp his hand, and so he clung there.
any thing at all
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She just stood still, looking up at Bunny.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
a youthful male person
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
BunnynounUS /ˈbʌni/
a young waitress in a nightclub whose costume includes the tail and ears of a rabbit
From this reading She just stood still, looking up at Bunny.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he did not quite unclasp his hand, and so he clung there.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading But he did not quite unclasp his hand, and so he clung there.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Sue was dancing up and down in her excitement.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But he did not quite unclasp his hand, and so he clung there.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Sue was dancing up and down in her excitement.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Sue was dancing up and down in her excitement.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading But he did not quite unclasp his hand, and so he clung there.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sue was dancing up and down in her excitement.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sue was dancing up and down in her excitement.
and nothing more
From this reading She just stood still, looking up at Bunny.
immediately past
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading She just stood still, looking up at Bunny.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he did not quite unclasp his hand, and so he clung there.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading But he did not quite unclasp his hand, and so he clung there.
express in words
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She just stood still, looking up at Bunny.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
not in physical motion
From this reading She just stood still, looking up at Bunny.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She just stood still, looking up at Bunny.
SueverbUS /suː/
institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
From this reading Sue was dancing up and down in her excitement.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But he did not quite unclasp his hand, and so he clung there.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
unclaspverb
release from a clasp
From this reading But he did not quite unclasp his hand, and so he clung there.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She just stood still, looking up at Bunny.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LAST DAY Mrs. Golden was too surprised to do or say anything.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading As for the little boy, he had been so startled that he almost let go his hold on one of the upright pieces of wood that held up the shelves.
