used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
(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 At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had been delivered with dramatic suddenness at the eleventh hour.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been delivered with dramatic suddenness at the eleventh hour.
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
deem to be
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
defencelessadjective
lacking protection or support
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading He had been delivered with dramatic suddenness at the eleventh hour.
dennounUS /den/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading He had been delivered with dramatic suddenness at the eleventh hour.
eleventhadjectiveUS /ɪˈlevənθ/
coming next after the tenth and just before the twelfth in position
From this reading He had been delivered with dramatic suddenness at the eleventh hour.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
start firing a weapon
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
frying-pan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
yet to be or coming
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He had been delivered with dramatic suddenness at the eleventh hour.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
narratedverbUS /ˈnereɪtɪd/
past form of “narrate” — provide commentary for a film, for example
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
not any; not one
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
opiumnounUS /ˈoʊpiəm/
an addictive narcotic extracted from seed capsules of the opium poppy
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
pawnnounUS /pɔːn/
an article deposited as security
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
probabilitynounUS /ˌprɑːbəˈbɪlətiː/
a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
realising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same time, he could not help realising that, in all probability, he had fallen out of the frying-pan into the fire.
sequencenounUS /ˈsiːkwəns/
serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
speculateverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪt/
to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
stiflingnounUS /ˈstaɪflɪŋ/
forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading A few moments since, he had stood defenceless in the stifling atmosphere of the opium den; he had beheld the knife raised to strike him down.
suddennessnounUS /ˈsʌdənnəs/
the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning
From this reading He had been delivered with dramatic suddenness at the eleventh hour.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Frank had neither time to consider the extraordinary sequence of events narrated in the previous chapter nor the slightest inclination to speculate in regard to the future.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He realised, somewhat dimly, that he was no more than a pawn in the game.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had been delivered with dramatic suddenness at the eleventh hour.
