used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING CONCLUSION.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
buryverbUS /ˈberi/
cover from sight
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
captornounUS /ˈkæptər/
a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
Carleton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
compressingnounUS /kəmˈpresɪŋ/
applying pressure
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading A STARTLING CONCLUSION.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
insinuatingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪnjuːeɪtɪŋ/
calculated to please or gain favor
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
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 Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
and nothing more
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
compacted by ironing
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
relyverbUS /rɪˈlaɪ/
have faith or confidence in
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
except for; apart from
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
to a small degree or extent
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
with low volume
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING CONCLUSION.
stealthilyadverb
in a stealthy manner
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
a special situation
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In his eagerness he stepped more softly and slightly crouched, as one is apt to do at such a time.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
at the time that
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
in or at the place that
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
whipverbUS /wɪp/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading Jack Carleton stealthily pressed his left hand against his breast; his knife was where he could whip it out when wanted.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why couldn't he draw it, and leaping forward, bury it in the side of his captor before he could save himself?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "It will be a dreadful thing," he reflected, compressing his lips, "but it is the only chance I have; _I'll try it!_" He began insinuating his hand under his coat, and groped for the only weapon on which he could now rely.
