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Chapter XVII
A GUN ROARS The two men glared at each other, silently, their faces distorted to gargoyles in the leaping and uncertain light. Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack. There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed. Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand. Jessie's fear outran her judgment.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
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.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Whaley could not afford to kill and Morse had no desire to force his hand.”
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.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
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 story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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 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.
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jessie's fear outran her judgment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jessie's fear outran her judgment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
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.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
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 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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jessie's fear outran her judgment.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a chance for the situation to adjust itself without bloodshed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wary, vigilant, tense, they faced each other as might jungle tigers waiting for the best moment to attack.
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.
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.
