used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TANGLE OF EVENTS.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Right from that moment a series of thrilling happenings began below.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Right from that moment a series of thrilling happenings began below.
breathlesslyadverbUS /ˈbreθləsli/
in a breathless manner
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
crestnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading A TANGLE OF EVENTS.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Right from that moment a series of thrilling happenings began below.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading Horror gripped them and held them spellbound.
gulchnounUS /ɡʌltʃ/
a narrow gorge with a stream running through it
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
happeningsnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/
plural of “happening” — an event that happens
From this reading Right from that moment a series of thrilling happenings began below.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Horror gripped them and held them spellbound.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
intense and profound fear
From this reading Horror gripped them and held them spellbound.
InstinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
a particular point in time
From this reading Right from that moment a series of thrilling happenings began below.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TANGLE OF EVENTS.
positionsnounUS /pəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Right from that moment a series of thrilling happenings began below.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading Right from that moment a series of thrilling happenings began below.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
spellboundadjectiveUS /ˈspelbaʊnd/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading Horror gripped them and held them spellbound.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
TANGLEnounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading A TANGLE OF EVENTS.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Right from that moment a series of thrilling happenings began below.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Horror gripped them and held them spellbound.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
thrillingadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪlɪŋ/
causing a surge of emotion or excitement
From this reading Right from that moment a series of thrilling happenings began below.
tragicadjectiveUS /ˈtrædʒɪk/
very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
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 The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading The slope of the gulch wall was a stage, and from the crest Frank and his chums watched events breathlessly.
wide-eyedadjective
exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity
From this reading Instinctively they rose from their crouching positions and stared wide-eyed at the tragic scene below them.
