used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
in actual fact
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
breathlesslyadverbUS /ˈbreθləsli/
in a breathless manner
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
captorsnounUS /ˈkæptərz/
plural of “captor” — a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading If it was really Garry coming!
not accessible to view
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
Dorothy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
gaggedverbUS /ɡæɡd/
inflected form of “gag” — prevent from speaking out
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
Garry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If it was really Garry coming!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
come to pass
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
horriblyadverbUS /ˈhɔːrəbli/
of a dreadful kind
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
horsemannounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
a man skilled in equitation
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If it was really Garry coming!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If it was really Garry coming!
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
go across or through
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading If it was really Garry coming!
rememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
shuttingnounUS /ˈʃʌtɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
similarlyadverbUS /ˈsɪmələrli/
in like or similar manner
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
stranglingnounUS /ˈstræŋɡəlɪŋ/
the act of suffocating (someone) by constricting the windpipe
From this reading A rough hand closed over Dorothy’s mouth, shutting off her breath, strangling her.
Tavia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading For a moment, remembering how well the spot was concealed, Dorothy was horribly afraid that this might actually happen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In an instant Tavia and Joe were similarly gagged and helpless.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was a silence during which their captors waited breathlessly, hoping that the horseman had not heard the cry, would pass the cave by.
