used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
affixedadjectiveUS /əˈfɪkst/
firmly attached
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
apprehendverbUS /ˌæprɪˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
buttonsnounUS /ˈbʌtənz/
plural of “button” — a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
a young female
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
intense and profound fear
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
jabnounUS /dʒæb/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
Keith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
kidnappernounUS /ˈkɪdnæpər/
someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
immediately past
From this reading A last leap, and they went through the open port of the moored space-flyer.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading A last leap, and they went through the open port of the moored space-flyer.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
without good reason
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
MarshallnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃəl/
United States actor (1914-1998)
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
mooredverbUS /mʊrd/
past form of “moor” — secure in or as if in a berth or dock
From this reading A last leap, and they went through the open port of the moored space-flyer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading A last leap, and they went through the open port of the moored space-flyer.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading A last leap, and they went through the open port of the moored space-flyer.
punyadjectiveUS /ˈpjuːni/
inferior in strength or significance
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
pursueverbUS /pərˈsuː/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
Randolph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/
so extremely intense as to evoke screams
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
slumpedverbUS /slʌmpt/
past form of “slump” — assume a drooping posture or carriage
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
space-flyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A last leap, and they went through the open port of the moored space-flyer.
springingverbUS /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
StaggeringadjectiveUS /ˈstæɡərɪŋ/
so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A last leap, and they went through the open port of the moored space-flyer.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A last leap, and they went through the open port of the moored space-flyer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Staggering toward his desk, Keith Randolph Marshall began to jab at buttons affixed on its top.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A last leap, and they went through the open port of the moored space-flyer.
at the time that
From this reading When servants appeared, he began screaming orders to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Almost unable to breathe from sheer horror, he slumped at a window and gazed into a courtyard below.
wispnounUS /wɪsp/
a small tuft or lock
From this reading The big man was springing lightly across the lawn, and the puny wisp of the girl looked a light burden in his massive arms.
