used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading There were exactly thirteen of them, and he was alone and unarmed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading AUTHOR OF “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” etc.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
ChumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading AUTHOR OF “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” etc.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
demanding attention
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading AUTHOR OF “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” etc.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
etc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” etc.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading There were exactly thirteen of them, and he was alone and unarmed.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
FoesnounUS /foʊz/
plural of “foe” — an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading AUTHOR OF “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” etc.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading AUTHOR OF “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” etc.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
hemmedverbUS /hemd/
inflected form of “hem” — fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
Merriwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
Merriwell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” etc.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
oddsnounUS /ɑːdz/
the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AUTHOR OF “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” etc.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
To move from a closed position.
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
quailed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
an educational institution
From this reading AUTHOR OF “Frank Merriwell’s School Days,” “Frank Merriwell’s Chums,” “Frank Merriwell’s Foes,” etc.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
confined on all sides
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were exactly thirteen of them, and he was alone and unarmed.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were exactly thirteen of them, and he was alone and unarmed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
From this reading There were exactly thirteen of them, and he was alone and unarmed.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
unarmedadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːrmd/
(used of persons or the military) not having or using arms
From this reading There were exactly thirteen of them, and he was alone and unarmed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Never before had Merriwell quailed in the face of odds, but now he took one look at them and then flung up his hands, crying:
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading From all sides they leaped upon him, clutched him, surrounded him, hemmed him in.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were exactly thirteen of them, and he was alone and unarmed.
at the time that
From this reading When Frank Merriwell, in a great hurry, flung open the door of his room and sprang in, he was little prepared for the reception that followed.
