used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “And you might as well be dead as to be caught here,” Hopwood retorted.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He wanted to run but he could not move.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading “And you might as well be dead as to be caught here,” Hopwood retorted.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He wanted to run but he could not move.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading “And you might as well be dead as to be caught here,” Hopwood retorted.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
a boy or man
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wanted to run but he could not move.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
helplesslyadverbUS /ˈhelpləsli/
in a helpless manner
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “And you might as well be dead as to be caught here,” Hopwood retorted.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
Hopwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
and nothing more
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
limplyadverb
without rigidity
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
lumpnounUS /lʌmp/
a compact mass
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He wanted to run but he could not move.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He wanted to run but he could not move.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
reactionnounUS /riˈækʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
past form of “retort” — answer back
From this reading “And you might as well be dead as to be caught here,” Hopwood retorted.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He wanted to run but he could not move.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
cut with a saw
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
scareverbUS /sker/
cause fear in
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
having a supporting base
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He wanted to run but he could not move.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
tunnelverbUS /ˈtʌnəl/
move through by or as by digging
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading He wanted to run but he could not move.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next instant he recognized Hopwood and the reaction was so great that he sat down limply in his tracks and stared helplessly.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
(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 “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
at the time that
From this reading A CLOSE CALL When Scott turned his head and saw that man standing just at the end of the tunnel a great lump rose in his throat and his knees almost gave way under him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You might as well kill a fellow as scare him to death, Hopwood,” he exclaimed when he had recovered his breath.
