used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
air-jackets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
beltsnounUS /belts/
plural of “belt” — endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
bendverbUS /bend/
form a curve
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
bunk-supports
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
combinedadjectiveUS /kəmˈbaɪnd/
made or joined or united into one
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
criss-crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
guardsnounUS /ɡɑːrdz/
plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
IntentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
L'snounUS /elz/
possessive form of “l” — a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
looseningnounUS /ˈluːsənɪŋ/
an occurrence of control or strength weakening
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
a particular point in time
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
in motion
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
not any; not one
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
precisely, exactly
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
stripsnounUS /strɪps/
plural of “strip” — a relatively long narrow piece of something
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
in a swift manner
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, swiftly loosening the long, strong leather belts that criss-crossed over our black air-jackets, we formed of them swiftly two leather ropes ten feet in length.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We had in our hands two metal strips, each of some three feet in length.
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading These we now bent swiftly into two L's or right angles of equal sides, using all our combined strength on each to bend the strong metal.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A Single Chance Intently for a moment we listened without moving; but there came no sound of alarm from without, nothing but the occasional voices of the guards.
wrenchedverbUS /rentʃt/
past form of “wrench” — twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates
From this reading And now we grasped another of the metal bunk-supports, and wrenched its metal strip loose from the wall with another tremendous effort.
