used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading Of the three prisoners, Spike was the first to resume his natural attitude.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In order to cut the chain, a file would be necessary.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading In order to cut the chain, a file would be necessary.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
being one more than seven
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading In order to cut the chain, a file would be necessary.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Of the three prisoners, Spike was the first to resume his natural attitude.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
HelplesslyadverbUS /ˈhelpləsli/
in a helpless manner
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In order to cut the chain, a file would be necessary.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
fasten with a lock
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
engage in
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Of the three prisoners, Spike was the first to resume his natural attitude.
absolutely essential
From this reading In order to cut the chain, a file would be necessary.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading In order to cut the chain, a file would be necessary.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading Of the three prisoners, Spike was the first to resume his natural attitude.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/
take up or begin anew
From this reading Of the three prisoners, Spike was the first to resume his natural attitude.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
securelyadverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrli/
in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
SpikenounUS /spaɪk/
a transient variation in voltage or current
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
terminatedadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrməneɪtɪd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Of the three prisoners, Spike was the first to resume his natural attitude.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
TrappedadjectiveUS /træpt/
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
communicated in words
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy chain that terminated at a large lock.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Helplessly Trapped Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure that his friend was right.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In order to cut the chain, a file would be necessary.
