used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "I can quite believe that, M. Lacroix," I answered.
babbledverbUS /ˈbæbəld/
past form of “babble” — utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way
From this reading "I wanted to see you, M. Hewlett," he babbled.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "I can quite believe that, M. Lacroix," I answered.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I can quite believe that, M. Lacroix," I answered.
D'EPERNAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
grimacingverbUS /ˈɡrɪməsɪŋ/
-ing form of “grimace” — contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
grinnounUS /ɡrɪn/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
helplessnessnounUS /ˈhelpləsnəs/
powerlessness revealed by an inability to act
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
Hewlett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I wanted to see you, M. Hewlett," he babbled.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
Lacroix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can quite believe that, M. Lacroix," I answered.
Leroux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading "I wanted to see you, M. Hewlett," he babbled.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "I can quite believe that, M. Lacroix," I answered.
on the contrary
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
cut with a saw
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I wanted to see you, M. Hewlett," he babbled.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
twistingnounUS /ˈtwɪstɪŋ/
the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean
From this reading He flung his hands above his head and stood facing me, surprise and terror twisting his features into a grimacing grin.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
unarmedadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːrmd/
(used of persons or the military) not having or using arms
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
communicated in words
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "I wanted to see you, M. Hewlett," he babbled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LOUIS D'EPERNAY He uttered an oath and took two steps backward, but I saw that he was unarmed and that he realized his helplessness.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was no man, next to Leroux, whom I would rather have seen.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I wanted to see you, M. Hewlett," he babbled.
