used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
aimedverbUS /eɪmd/
past form of “aim” — point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
(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 ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading It crumpled the Malay, with strangely sprawling legs.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Kill him it did not.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
gruntnounUS /ɡrʌnt/
the short low gruff noise of the kind made by hogs
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
guardiannounUS /ˈɡɑːrdiən/
a person who cares for persons or property
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
guidedadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdəd/
subject to guidance or control especially after launching
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
only a very short time before
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Kill him it did not.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It crumpled the Malay, with strangely sprawling legs.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Kill him it did not.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
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 But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
staying power
From this reading It crumpled the Malay, with strangely sprawling legs.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
MalaynounUS /ˈmeɪleɪ/
a member of a people inhabiting the northern Malay Peninsula and Malaysia and parts of the western Malay Archipelago
From this reading It crumpled the Malay, with strangely sprawling legs.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Kill him it did not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
and nothing more
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
ONSETnounUS /ˈɑːnset/
the beginning or early stages
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
skinnyadjectiveUS /ˈskɪni/
being very thin
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
sprawlingnounUS /ˈsprɔːlɪŋ/
an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about
From this reading It crumpled the Malay, with strangely sprawling legs.
not in physical motion
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
in a strange manner
From this reading It crumpled the Malay, with strangely sprawling legs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With a grunt he crumpled to the hot deck, knife still clutched in skinny fist.
the topmost one of two
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
vertebræ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the bullet through his lower vertebræ left only his upper half alive.
Wansley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ONSET OF BATTLE The shot that Wansley fired, a chance shot hardly aimed at all, must have been guided by the finger of the captain’s guardian genius.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It crumpled the Malay, with strangely sprawling legs.
