used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
at or in the front
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
answeringadjectiveUS /ˈænsərɪŋ/
replying
From this reading He drew his revolver and fired an answering shot.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
confirmedadjectiveUS /kənˈfɜːrmd/
of persons; not subject to change
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He drew his revolver and fired an answering shot.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading He drew his revolver and fired an answering shot.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
set up or found
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
madlyadverbUS /ˈmædli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
MasonnounUS /ˈmeɪsən/
American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
not any; not one
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
pitchnounUS /pɪtʃ/
the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
racernounUS /ˈreɪsər/
someone who drives racing cars at high speeds
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
Ricker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
ROUND-UP
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
sprintedverbUS /ˈsprɪntɪd/
past form of “sprint” — run very fast, usually for a short distance
From this reading He knew the girls must have arrived at the ranch ahead of him, but seeing no signs of life about the place he left his motor running and sprinted for the house.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Just as he threw the door open he heard a piercing scream followed by a revolver shot that appeared to come from the depths of the cellar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
at the time that
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
in or at the place that
From this reading He dashed madly down the stairs leading to the cellar where he found himself in pitch darkness.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading THE ROUND-UP When Mason arrived at the Ricker ranch in his racer there was an ominous silence about the place that confirmed his worst fears.
