used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
of short duration or distance
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
combatnounUS /ˈkɑːmbæt/
an engagement fought between two military forces
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
desperationnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
elmnounUS /elm/
any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
at any time
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
set up or found
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
MIRACULOUSadjectiveUS /mərˈækjələs/
being or having the character of a miracle
From this reading A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
misfortunenounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
used to form the superlative
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
being perceived or observed
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
onslaughtnounUS /ˈɔːnslɔːt/
a sudden and severe onset of trouble
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
positionsnounUS /pəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
To recall to mind.
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
precisely, exactly
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
stumbleverbUS /ˈstʌmbəl/
walk unsteadily
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading My terrible scream made the animal draw back for an instant, and during this brief space of time I managed through sheer desperation to free my right hand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
except if; if not
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
in or at the place that
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While doing this, I remember that close to the spot where I was a prisoner, I had noticed several smaller rocks lying at the base of the elm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I now found myself face to face with one of the most dangerous positions into which it had ever been my misfortune to stumble.
any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading The wolf that had attacked me was both large and fierce, and unless by some means I became able to combat its onslaught, I felt that my life might end then and there.
