used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
(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 Still, Frank Merriwell did not seem at all nervous or excited.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
astoundedadjectiveUS /əˈstaʊndɪd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Still, Frank Merriwell did not seem at all nervous or excited.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
the two together, not just one
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Still, Frank Merriwell did not seem at all nervous or excited.
move gently or carefully
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Still, Frank Merriwell did not seem at all nervous or excited.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
hold firmly
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
headlongadverbUS /ˈhedlɔːŋ/
with the head foremost
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just in time.
and nothing more
From this reading Just in time.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
madlyadverbUS /ˈmædli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
Merriwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still, Frank Merriwell did not seem at all nervous or excited.
a particular point in time
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
easily agitated
From this reading Still, Frank Merriwell did not seem at all nervous or excited.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Still, Frank Merriwell did not seem at all nervous or excited.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
reinverbUS /reɪn/
control and direct with or as if by reins
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
reinsnounUS /reɪnz/
plural of “rein” — one of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Still, Frank Merriwell did not seem at all nervous or excited.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
not in physical motion
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
moving very fast
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Just in time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
hard to endure
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading With a swift, sure grasp he caught both the reins and then he turned the madly running horses to one side.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
vainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
in or at the place that
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
which person or people
From this reading But not a moment was to be lost, for they were close upon the old negro, who was vainly trying to rein his horse out of the road.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading The astounded man expected to see the college youth flung headlong to the ground, but to his still greater amazement, Frank landed fairly on the back of the horse, where he clung with perfect ease.
