used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
amazedadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading They located Frank, and, though amazed by the manner in which he had escaped them, renewed the attack.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Harlow and Radford sprang up quickly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading They located Frank, and, though amazed by the manner in which he had escaped them, renewed the attack.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
a state at a particular time
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
dazedadjectiveUS /deɪzd/
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
eelnounUS /iːl/
the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in Europe and America; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
From this reading As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading They located Frank, and, though amazed by the manner in which he had escaped them, renewed the attack.
opinion or judgment
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They located Frank, and, though amazed by the manner in which he had escaped them, renewed the attack.
HarlownounUS /ˈhɑːrloʊ/
United States film actress who made several films with Clark Gable (1911-1937)
From this reading Harlow and Radford sprang up quickly.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
to a considerable degree
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
locatedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkeɪtəd/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading They located Frank, and, though amazed by the manner in which he had escaped them, renewed the attack.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They located Frank, and, though amazed by the manner in which he had escaped them, renewed the attack.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
with speed
From this reading Harlow and Radford sprang up quickly.
Radford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harlow and Radford sprang up quickly.
renewedadjectiveUS /rɪˈnuːd/
restored to a new condition
From this reading They located Frank, and, though amazed by the manner in which he had escaped them, renewed the attack.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Harlow and Radford sprang up quickly.
squirmingverbUS /ˈskwɜːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “squirm” — to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They located Frank, and, though amazed by the manner in which he had escaped them, renewed the attack.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
up to a particular time
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
twistverbUS /twɪst/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Harlow and Radford sprang up quickly.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
(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 As well might they have tried to hold an eel.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They located Frank, and, though amazed by the manner in which he had escaped them, renewed the attack.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While they were in this condition, he got upon his feet, breathing heavily, but laughing as if it were a matter of sport.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
writheverbUS /rɪθ/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading With a squirming twist, Frank managed to writhe from beneath them, somehow thumping their heads together till they were dazed by the stars that seemed to flash before their eyes.
