used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Desmond was too quick for him.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
close-packedadjective
packed especially tightly
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
travel across or pass over
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
danglingnounUS /ˈdæŋɡəlɪŋ/
the act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely)
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
Desmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Desmond was too quick for him.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But Desmond was too quick for him.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
half-clad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
heelnounUS /hiːl/
the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But Desmond was too quick for him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
immediately past
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
men-servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
not any; not one
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
a course of conduct
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
preventingverbUS /prɪˈventɪŋ/
-ing form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading But Desmond was too quick for him.
move hurridly
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
shrubberynounUS /ˈʃrʌbəri/
an area where a number of shrubs are planted
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
SpringingverbUS /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading But Desmond was too quick for him.
triceverbUS /traɪs/
raise with a line
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading Springing upon his back, he caught his arms, thus preventing him from using his pistol.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But Desmond was too quick for him.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
window-sill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the excitement of these close-packed moments Desmond had forgotten the other man, whom he had last seen with his leg dangling over the window-sill.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a muffled curse he swung on his heel, and made to cross the gravel path and plunge into the shrubbery.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
wriggleverbUS /ˈrɪɡəl/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading He was a powerful man, and Desmond alone would have been no match for him; but before he could wriggle himself entirely free, three half-clad men-servants came up with a rush, and in a trice he was secured.
