used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
assailantsnounUS /əˈseɪlənts/
plural of “assailant” — someone who attacks
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
BartnounUS /bɑːrt/
a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight
From this reading “Fight for your life, Frank!” grated Bart.
Bart'snounUS /bɑːrts/
possessive form of “bart” — a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE DARK.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
fastenverbUS /ˈfæsən/
cause to be firmly attached
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE DARK.
foesnounUS /foʊz/
plural of “foe” — an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading “Fight for your life, Frank!” grated Bart.
grappledverbUS /ˈɡræpəld/
past form of “grapple” — succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
grapplingnounUS /ˈɡræplɪŋ/
the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
gratedverbUS /ˈɡreɪtɪd/
past form of “grate” — furnish with a grate
From this reading “Fight for your life, Frank!” grated Bart.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
Hodge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE DARK.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “Fight for your life, Frank!” grated Bart.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
poorlyadverbUS /ˈpuːrli/
(“ill” is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
with little or no delay
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE DARK.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
hard to endure
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
not known
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
communicated in words
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The attack came suddenly, and the boys were but poorly prepared for it.
which person or people
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
in the company of; together with
From this reading However, they promptly grappled with their assailants, who seemed trying to force them over the edge of the rocks into the water.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading One of the unknown foes uttered a savage curse, but the other spoke not a word, grappling with Hodge and trying to fasten his hands on Bart’s throat.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Fight for your life, Frank!” grated Bart.
