used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading Both Dillon and Mat uttered cries of astonishment and grabbed at him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Both Dillon and Mat uttered cries of astonishment and grabbed at him.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both Dillon and Mat uttered cries of astonishment and grabbed at him.
a youthful male person
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
terminate
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Both Dillon and Mat uttered cries of astonishment and grabbed at him.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
Dillon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Dillon and Mat uttered cries of astonishment and grabbed at him.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading FORCED TO WRITE.
grabbedverbUS /ɡræbd/
inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading Both Dillon and Mat uttered cries of astonishment and grabbed at him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Both Dillon and Mat uttered cries of astonishment and grabbed at him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
jarredverbUS /dʒɑːrd/
inflected form of “jar” — be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
MatnounUS /mæt/
a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
From this reading Both Dillon and Mat uttered cries of astonishment and grabbed at him.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
recklessadjectiveUS /ˈrekləs/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
securelyadverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrli/
in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
SpottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dick's daring and reckless break for liberty might have been successful but for the fact that the outer door had been closed and securely fastened after the entrance of Spotted Dan.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FORCED TO WRITE.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
hard to endure
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
unfastenverb
cause to become undone
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
communicated in words
From this reading Both Dillon and Mat uttered cries of astonishment and grabbed at him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He avoided their hands and reached the door, but as he was trying to unfasten it they fell on him.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Dan went down with a shock that jarred the whole building, and the boy leaped toward the door.
produce a literary work
From this reading FORCED TO WRITE.
