used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
antagonistnounUS /ænˈtæɡənəst/
someone who offers opposition
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
confined by bonds
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
cat-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
gagverbUS /ɡæɡ/
prevent from speaking out
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
savagelyadverbUS /ˈsævɪdʒli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
scrambledadjectiveUS /ˈskræmbəld/
thrown together in a disorderly fashion
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
stateroomnoun
a guest cabin
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
stuffedadjectiveUS /stʌft/
filled with something
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
unequaladjectiveUS /əˈniːkwəl/
poorly balanced or matched in quantity or value or measure
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Then he recovered his presence of mind and scrambled up, drawing a deep breath to shout for help.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading But before he could utter a sound the intruder had dropped, cat-like, to the floor of the stateroom and was on him in a bound.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For three or four seconds Tad was too terrified to move.
windpipenoun
membranous tube with cartilaginous rings that conveys inhaled air from the larynx to the bronchi
From this reading A powerful hand closed on his windpipe, and a gag of some sort was stuffed into his mouth.
wiryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪri/
lean and sinewy
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
a late time of life
From this reading Tad, strong and wiry for his fifteen years, fought back at his tall antagonist savagely, but it was an unequal struggle.
