used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
anew
From this reading The stunner buzzed in his hand, and once again the footfalls retreated.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The stunner buzzed in his hand, and once again the footfalls retreated.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Then he heard boots clanging up the other corridor.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
buzzedverbUS /bʌzd/
past form of “buzz” — make a buzzing sound
From this reading The stunner buzzed in his hand, and once again the footfalls retreated.
clangingadjectiveUS /ˈklæŋɪŋ/
having a loud resonant metallic sound
From this reading Then he heard boots clanging up the other corridor.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Then he heard boots clanging up the other corridor.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
start firing a weapon
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
footfalls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stunner buzzed in his hand, and once again the footfalls retreated.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
hatchverbUS /hætʃ/
emerge from the eggs
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Then he heard boots clanging up the other corridor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stunner buzzed in his hand, and once again the footfalls retreated.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
on one occasion
From this reading The stunner buzzed in his hand, and once again the footfalls retreated.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Then he heard boots clanging up the other corridor.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
compacted by ironing
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
raidersnounUS /ˈreɪdərz/
plural of “raider” — someone who takes spoils or plunder (as in war)
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
retreatednounUS /riˈtriːtəd/
people who have retreated
From this reading The stunner buzzed in his hand, and once again the footfalls retreated.
scorchedadjectiveUS /skɔːrtʃt/
Burned by flames or heat; blackened by intense magical or physical fire.
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
studverbUS /stʌd/
scatter or intersperse like dots or studs
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
stunnernounUS /ˈstʌnər/
a very attractive or seductive looking woman
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
targetnounUS /ˈtɑːrɡət/
a reference point to shoot at
From this reading For an instant he made a perfect target, but the raiders did not fire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he heard boots clanging up the other corridor.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He fired through the crack, pressing down the stud until the stunner scorched his hand.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then he heard boots clanging up the other corridor.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He pressed back against the wall, waited until the sounds were near, then threw open the hatch.
