used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
Alan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
captornounUS /ˈkæptər/
a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading His captor was releasing him.
debatingverbUS /dəˈbeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “debate” — argue with one another
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
easingnounUS /ˈiːzɪŋ/
a change for the better
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading You see what happens."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His captor was releasing him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
go away from a place
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
releasingadjectiveUS /riˈliːsɪŋ/
emotionally purging (of e.g. art)
From this reading His captor was releasing him.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading You see what happens."
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Alan was too stunned to reply for several moments.
unguardedadjectiveUS /ənˈɡɑːrdɪd/
lacking protection or a guard
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Suddenly Alan felt the pressure behind his neck easing up.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His captor was releasing him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading You see what happens."
at the time that
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
whirlverbUS /wɜːrl/
turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You see what happens."
you're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He poised, debating whether or not to whirl and attack, when a familiar voice said, "Rule Number One: never leave your back unguarded for more than half a second when you're being held up.
