used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading His first movement was to feel for his pistol, which so far had rested in his belt.
boltedverbUS /ˈboʊltəd/
past form of “bolt” — move or jump suddenly
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
cockedverbUS /kɑːkt/
past form of “cock” — tilt or slant to one side
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
dupedverbUS /duːpt/
past form of “dupe” — fool or hoax
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading His first movement was to feel for his pistol, which so far had rested in his belt.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading His first movement was to feel for his pistol, which so far had rested in his belt.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading His first movement was to feel for his pistol, which so far had rested in his belt.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His first movement was to feel for his pistol, which so far had rested in his belt.
set up or found
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
Gilbert'snounUS /ˈɡɪlbərts/
possessive form of “gilbert” — a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
death of a person
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
JOSSnounUS /dʒɔːs/
a Chinese god worshipped in the form of an idol
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
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 Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading His first movement was to feel for his pistol, which so far had rested in his belt.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading His first movement was to feel for his pistol, which so far had rested in his belt.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading His first movement was to feel for his pistol, which so far had rested in his belt.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His first movement was to feel for his pistol, which so far had rested in his belt.
dependable
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
TrappedadjectiveUS /træpt/
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading AN ADVENTURE IN A JOSS HOUSE “Trapped, as sure as fate!”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He felt that he had been badly duped, and that his life was in grave peril.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading Drawing the weapon, he cocked it, and then backed up against the stout door, feeling that an attack could not come from that direction so long as the iron barrier was bolted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Such were the words which came to Gilbert’s lips as he found himself in darkness, with the heavy door of the joss house locked behind him.
