used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading What awful thing could be going to happen to them now? they wondered.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What awful thing could be going to happen to them now? they wondered.
beckonedverbUS /ˈbekənd/
past form of “beckon” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What awful thing could be going to happen to them now? they wondered.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
gigglingverbUS /ˈɡɪɡəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “giggle” — laugh nervously
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
a young female
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
the act of departing
From this reading What awful thing could be going to happen to them now? they wondered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
come to pass
From this reading What awful thing could be going to happen to them now? they wondered.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
a small worthless amount
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
MollynounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading What awful thing could be going to happen to them now? they wondered.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
quickeradverbUS /ˈkwɪkər/
more quickly
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
done under pressure
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
a special situation
From this reading What awful thing could be going to happen to them now? they wondered.
tightlyadverbUS /ˈtaɪtli/
in a tight or constricted manner
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
TrappedadjectiveUS /træpt/
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
precisely as stated
From this reading How foolish, how very foolish, they had been to trust the girl!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What awful thing could be going to happen to them now? they wondered.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading _Trapped_ Jack and Molly clutched hold of each other tightly, while a feeling of despair rushed over them.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading The whispered conversation between the two at the end of the passage ended in a loud burst of laughter and giggling; then the girl turned toward them and beckoned.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading What awful thing could be going to happen to them now? they wondered.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Come on,” she said, “and the quicker the better it will be for you....
