Chapter XI · The Abandoned Captive

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

later than; following

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

how long something has existed

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

from appearances alone

From this reading It was Tommy Tucker, and the freshman was in a decidedly unpleasant and apparently serious situation.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet.

plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

confined by bonds

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

Causing difficulty in breathing.

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

the dissemination of copies of periodicals (as newspapers or magazines)

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

cotton trousers made of corduroy cloth

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

without question and beyond doubt

From this reading It was Tommy Tucker, and the freshman was in a decidedly unpleasant and apparently serious situation.

a state in which all hope is lost or absent

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

being one more than seventeen

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

in a faint and feeble manner

From this reading From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet.

shining unsteadily

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

the motion made by flapping up and down

From this reading From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet.

a first-year undergraduate

From this reading It was Tommy Tucker, and the freshman was in a decidedly unpleasant and apparently serious situation.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet.

the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity

From this reading From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

an utterance expressing pain or disapproval

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

an airplane powered by one or more jet engines

From this reading From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet.

a boy or man

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

engage in

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

above and across; more than

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary

From this reading From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet.

recurring again and again

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

precisely, exactly

From this reading From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading It was Tommy Tucker, and the freshman was in a decidedly unpleasant and apparently serious situation.

being one more than sixteen

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

From this reading It was Tommy Tucker, and the freshman was in a decidedly unpleasant and apparently serious situation.

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

held in check with difficulty

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

bound or secured closely

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

closely constrained or constricted or constricting

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was Tommy Tucker, and the freshman was in a decidedly unpleasant and apparently serious situation.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading Try as he might, he could not make a sound louder than a smothered, choking groan.

United States anarchist influential before World War I (1854-1939)

From this reading It was Tommy Tucker, and the freshman was in a decidedly unpleasant and apparently serious situation.

smaller than normal for its kind

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.

offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness

From this reading It was Tommy Tucker, and the freshman was in a decidedly unpleasant and apparently serious situation.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

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 From the wall at his right projected a feebly fluttering gas jet.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading After repeated attempts to shout he gave it up in despair, although the cords which bound him to the chair had been drawn so tight that they were cutting into his limbs and stopping the circulation of his blood, and the thick cloth tied over his mouth was nearly smothering him.

a late time of life

From this reading The faint light, flickering on the face of the captive, showed him to be a slight, slender, undersized lad some seventeen or eighteen years of age.