used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DESPERATE DEFENSE.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then came a loud thundering noise at the door.
barrelsnounUS /ˈbærəlz/
the amount that many barrels might hold
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
boltedverbUS /ˈboʊltəd/
past form of “bolt” — move or jump suddenly
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then came a loud thundering noise at the door.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
DEFENSEnounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading A DESPERATE DEFENSE.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A DESPERATE DEFENSE.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
the act of departing
From this reading Not a word was spoken while this was going on.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Then came a loud thundering noise at the door.
mutineersnounUS /ˌmjuːtɪˈnɪrz/
plural of “mutineer” — someone who is openly rebellious and refuses to obey authorities (especially seamen or soldiers)
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Then came a loud thundering noise at the door.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a word was spoken while this was going on.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not a word was spoken while this was going on.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Not a word was spoken while this was going on.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then came a loud thundering noise at the door.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Not a word was spoken while this was going on.
thunderingadjectiveUS /ˈθʌndərɪŋ/
sounding like thunder
From this reading Then came a loud thundering noise at the door.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
triumphantadjectiveUS /traɪˈʌmfənt/
joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
uproarnounUS /ˈʌprɔːr/
a state of commotion and noise and confusion
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Not a word was spoken while this was going on.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading By the time they had finished the uproar without had changed its character; the firing had ceased, and the triumphant shouts of the mutineers showed that their victory was complete.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Not a word was spoken while this was going on.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In an instant the door was closed and bolted, and the four set to work to pile barrels and boxes against it.
