used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But on a matter like that, he felt, he could now waste no time.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
chordnounUS /kɔːrd/
a straight line connecting two points on a curve
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
without doubt or question
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
clothing in general
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But on a matter like that, he felt, he could now waste no time.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
Durkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
one or the other of two
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading But on a matter like that, he felt, he could now waste no time.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
forearmnounUS /fɔːˈrɑːrm/
the part of the superior limb between the elbow and the wrist
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
lapseverbUS /læps/
pass into a specified state or condition
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But on a matter like that, he felt, he could now waste no time.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But on a matter like that, he felt, he could now waste no time.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
not any; not one
From this reading But on a matter like that, he felt, he could now waste no time.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But on a matter like that, he felt, he could now waste no time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But on a matter like that, he felt, he could now waste no time.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
smotheringadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərɪŋ/
causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
stabverbUS /stæb/
use a knife on
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
STRAITSnounUS /streɪts/
a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
surmisedverbUS /sərˈmaɪzd/
past form of “surmise” — infer from incomplete evidence
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRAITS OF CHANCE How his flight ended Durkin never clearly remembered.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
unreasoningadjectiveUS /ənˈriːznɪŋ/
not based on reason or evidence
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As he struggled to his feet a stab of pain shot through his left hand, and up through his forearm.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading But on a matter like that, he felt, he could now waste no time.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading He had a dim and uneasy memory of the lapse of time, either great or little, the confused recollection of waking to his senses and fighting his way free from a smothering weight of wet and clinging clothes.
wristnounUS /rɪst/
a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
From this reading It was so keen and penetrating that he surmised, in his blank and unreasoning haste, that he must have torn a chord or broken a bone in his wrist.
