used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FAMILY REUNION Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A FAMILY REUNION Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Matilda!" he exclaimed.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading On Jack's face was a look of menacing justice.
a social unit living together
From this reading A FAMILY REUNION Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A FAMILY REUNION Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door.
HarveynounUS /ˈhɑːrvi/
English physician and scientist who described the circulation of the blood; he later proposed that all animals originate from an ovum produced by the female of the species (1578-1657)
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Matilda!" he exclaimed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
invadingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveɪdɪŋ/
involving invasion or aggressive attack
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
Jack'snounUS /dʒæks/
possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount
From this reading On Jack's face was a look of menacing justice.
jawverbUS /dʒɔː/
talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
the quality of being just or fair
From this reading On Jack's face was a look of menacing justice.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading On Jack's face was a look of menacing justice.
lungedverbUS /lʌndʒd/
past form of “lunge” — make a thrusting forward movement
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Matilda!" he exclaimed.
Matilda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FAMILY REUNION Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door.
menacingadjectiveUS /ˈmenəsɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading On Jack's face was a look of menacing justice.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On Jack's face was a look of menacing justice.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On Jack's face was a look of menacing justice.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
Pyecroft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
relaxedadjectiveUS /rɪˈlækst/
without strain or anxiety
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
REUNIONnounUS /riˈuːnjən/
a party of former associates who have come together again
From this reading A FAMILY REUNION Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading A FAMILY REUNION Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
socketsnounUS /ˈsɑːkəts/
plural of “socket” — a bony hollow into which a structure fits
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FAMILY REUNION Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary.
a shaky motion
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
turnkeynounUS /ˈtɜːrnkiː/
someone who guards prisoners
From this reading But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
unlockedadjectiveUS /ənˈlɑːkt/
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading A FAMILY REUNION Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On Jack's face was a look of menacing justice.
