used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Then with a dive he was through, and with the tent between him and his enemies.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the first was the cutting of the canvas farthest from the entrance.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading But the first was the cutting of the canvas farthest from the entrance.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading But the first was the cutting of the canvas farthest from the entrance.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
dirknounUS /dɜːrk/
a relatively long dagger with a straight blade
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
divenounUS /daɪv/
a cheap disreputable nightclub or dance hall
From this reading Then with a dive he was through, and with the tent between him and his enemies.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading Then with a dive he was through, and with the tent between him and his enemies.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading But the first was the cutting of the canvas farthest from the entrance.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
at any time
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
farthestadverbUS /ˈfɑːrðəst/
to the greatest distance in space or time (“farthest” is used more often than “furthest” in this physical sense)
From this reading But the first was the cutting of the canvas farthest from the entrance.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The inevitable had happened, and he had played with fire too long.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading But the first was the cutting of the canvas farthest from the entrance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But the first was the cutting of the canvas farthest from the entrance.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The inevitable had happened, and he had played with fire too long.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading The inevitable had happened, and he had played with fire too long.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The inevitable had happened, and he had played with fire too long.
loosenedadjectiveUS /ˈluːsənd/
straightened out
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
MacaulaynounUS /məˈkɔːli/
English historian noted for his history of England (1800-1859)
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
come together
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
MucklenounUS /ˈmʌkəl/
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading The inevitable had happened, and he had played with fire too long.
with speed
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then with a dive he was through, and with the tent between him and his enemies.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Then with a dive he was through, and with the tent between him and his enemies.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The inevitable had happened, and he had played with fire too long.
precisely as stated
From this reading And so, when the officer hurried out to meet the new arrival, he did a number of things very quickly.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the first was the cutting of the canvas farthest from the entrance.
at the time that
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE Now when Muckle John had heard the voice of Macaulay--or, to give him his real name, Captain Strange--approaching the tent, he had moved ever so slightly backward and loosened his dirk.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The inevitable had happened, and he had played with fire too long.
