used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
bleedingnounUS /ˈbliːdɪŋ/
the flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessel
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
exhale hard
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young boy
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
CLAIRE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
CLASPverbUS /klæsp/
hold firmly and tightly
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
cowardlyadjectiveUS /ˈkaʊərdli/
lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
depositionsnounUS /ˌdepəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “deposition” — the natural process of laying down a deposit of something
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading Tom was dying.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
failingnounUS /ˈfeɪlɪŋ/
a flaw or weak point
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
inchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
inwardadjectiveUS /ˈɪnwərd/
relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
killingnounUS /ˈkɪlɪŋ/
an event that causes someone to die
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
not any; not one
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
participate in games or sport
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
pluckverbUS /plʌk/
pull or pull out sharply
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
cut with a saw
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
having a handwritten signature
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
surgeonnounUS /ˈsɜːrdʒən/
a physician who specializes in surgery
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The knife had missed his heart by little more than an inch, but the inward bleeding was killing him and there was no hope.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He knew it, and though the reason of that cowardly blow was a mystery to him, he asked few questions, but faced his fate with the old boyish pluck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
male cat
From this reading Tom was dying.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tom was dying.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading TELLS HOW CLAIRE WENT TO THE PLAY; AND HOW SHE SAW THE GOLDEN CLASP.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His depositions had been taken and signed with his failing hand; the surgeon had given his judgment, and my friend was lying upon his bed, face to face with the supreme struggle.
