used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To pull himself up over that slippery stone was, he found, a sheer impossibility.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
the lower side of anything
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
let fall to the ground
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
edgesnounUS /ˈedʒəz/
plural of “edge” — the boundary of a surface
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
set up or found
From this reading To pull himself up over that slippery stone was, he found, a sheer impossibility.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
gulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading To pull himself up over that slippery stone was, he found, a sheer impossibility.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
impossibilitynounUS /ˌɪmpɔːsɪˈbɪlɪti/
incapability of existing or occurring
From this reading To pull himself up over that slippery stone was, he found, a sheer impossibility.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
for more time
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
and nothing more
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
precariousadjectiveUS /priˈkeriəs/
affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading To pull himself up over that slippery stone was, he found, a sheer impossibility.
show unwillingness towards
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
revolvedadjectiveUS /riˈvɑːlvd/
turned in a circle around an axis
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
self-preservationnoun
preservation of yourself from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading To pull himself up over that slippery stone was, he found, a sheer impossibility.
slipperyadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpəri/
causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide
From this reading To pull himself up over that slippery stone was, he found, a sheer impossibility.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
Stanley'snounUS /ˈstænliz/
possessive form of “stanley” — United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading To pull himself up over that slippery stone was, he found, a sheer impossibility.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And, indeed, he had need to think, for it seemed highly probable that within the next few minutes he might be dashed to pieces on the floor of the secret chamber, forty feet below.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
treacherouslyadverb
in a disloyal and faithless manner
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading To pull himself up over that slippery stone was, he found, a sheer impossibility.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading To let go of his precarious hold and drop to the bottom of the well was certain death.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
at the time that
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading WITHIN THE TOWER Stanley's first thought as he hung suspended over the gulf, when the plate had so treacherously revolved, was of self-preservation.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the sharp edges of the plate were already cutting into his hands, and it could only be a matter of a few moments when his arms would refuse to support any longer the weight of his body.
