used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading They had heard the call of the lookout and were dropping tools to pick up weapons.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The Four Visitors "Somebody coming!" the lookout called.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The Four Visitors "Somebody coming!" the lookout called.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Jed Hargraves dropped the shovel.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading They had heard the call of the lookout and were dropping tools to pick up weapons.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The Four Visitors "Somebody coming!" the lookout called.
gougedverbUS /ɡaʊdʒd/
past form of “gouge” — force with the thumb
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
Hargraves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jed Hargraves dropped the shovel.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading They had heard the call of the lookout and were dropping tools to pick up weapons.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
hissverbUS /hɪs/
make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
an opening into or through something
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
hullnounUS /hʌl/
dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
Jed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jed Hargraves dropped the shovel.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The Four Visitors "Somebody coming!" the lookout called.
magna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
select carefully from a group
From this reading They had heard the call of the lookout and were dropping tools to pick up weapons.
repairnounUS /rɪˈper/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
transport commercially
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
shovelnounUS /ˈʃʌvəl/
a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
From this reading Jed Hargraves dropped the shovel.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
a person, without saying who
From this reading The Four Visitors "Somebody coming!" the lookout called.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
dependable
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Four Visitors "Somebody coming!" the lookout called.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
toolsnounUS /tuːlz/
plural of “tool” — an implement used in the practice of a vocation
From this reading They had heard the call of the lookout and were dropping tools to pick up weapons.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They had heard the call of the lookout and were dropping tools to pick up weapons.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading The Four Visitors "Somebody coming!" the lookout called.
weaponsnounUS /ˈwepənz/
plural of “weapon” — any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading They had heard the call of the lookout and were dropping tools to pick up weapons.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had heard the call of the lookout and were dropping tools to pick up weapons.
whangverbUS /wæŋ/
beat with force
From this reading Behind him the hiss of an electric cutting torch and the whang of a heavy hammer went into sudden silence.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Back there, a hundreds yards away, they had already begun work on the ship, attempting to repair the hole gouged in the stout magna steel of the hull.
