used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The odds were against him.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/
the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
automaticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
breed'snounUS /briːdz/
possessive form of “breed” — a special variety of domesticated animals within a species
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
make calm or still
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
decidingnounUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of reaching a decision
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
someone who is a detective
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
half-breednoun
an offensive term for an offspring of parents of different racial group (especially of Caucasian and American Indian ancestry)
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The odds were against him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
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 Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
not any; not one
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
oddsnounUS /ɑːdz/
the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring
From this reading The odds were against him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
by chance
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
with speed
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
ReactionnounUS /riˈækʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
spasmnounUS /ˈspæzəm/
a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
From this reading Reaction from his first spasm of fear had left him calm and cool, his mind on the alert.
squarelyadverbUS /ˈskwerli/
directly and without evasion; not roundabout
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He put down his gun as quickly as he could, deciding to face the situation squarely.
ugly-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The odds were against him.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
which person or people
From this reading No sooner had Dick picked up his rifle than he realized that he could not possibly escape the second half-breed and the sailor who stood by the fireplace.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sailor had covered him with an ugly-looking automatic, while the breed’s rifle was held at a threatening angle.
