used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
adjustverbUS /əˈdʒʌst/
alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
bloodshednounUS /ˈblʌdʃed/
the shedding of blood resulting in murder
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
distortedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɔːrtəd/
so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Jessie's fear outran her judgment.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
gargoylesnounUS /ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪlz/
plural of “gargoyle” — a spout that terminates in a grotesquely carved figure of a person or animal
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
glaredverbUS /ɡlerd/
past form of “glare” — look at with a fixed gaze
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Jessie's fear outran her judgment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
Jessie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jessie's fear outran her judgment.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading Jessie's fear outran her judgment.
junglenounUS /ˈdʒʌŋɡəl/
a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
the force of workers available
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
a particular point in time
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
MorsenounUS /mɔːrs/
a telegraph code in which letters and numbers are represented by strings of dots and dashes (short and long signals)
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
not any; not one
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
outranverbUS /aʊˈtræn/
inflected form of “outrun” — run faster than
From this reading Jessie's fear outran her judgment.
ROARSnounUS /rɔːrz/
plural of “roar” — a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
without speaking
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
tigersnounUS /ˈtaɪɡərz/
a terrorist organization in Sri Lanka that began in 1970 as a student protest over the limited university access for Tamil students
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light.
vigilantadjectiveUS /ˈvɪdʒələnt/
carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
WaryadjectiveUS /ˈweri/
marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
Whaley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
