used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
agilitynounUS /əˈdʒɪləti/
the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
challengingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃæləndʒɪŋ/
requiring full use of your abilities or resources
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
clattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
cynicaladjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪkəl/
believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
dainties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
drawling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
exultationnoun
a feeling of extreme joy
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
opinion or judgment
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
a long fixed look
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
insolentadjectiveUS /ˈɪnsələnt/
marked by casual disrespect
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
and nothing more
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "So, Little Mouse!
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
for more time
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
malignadjectiveUS /məˈlaɪn/
evil or harmful in nature or influence
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
a particular point in time
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
MousenounUS /maʊs/
any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading "So, Little Mouse!
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
nibbleverbUS /ˈnɪbəl/
bite off very small pieces
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
not any; not one
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
PewnounUS /pjuː/
long bench with backs; used in church by the congregation
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
relaxverbUS /rɪˈlæks/
become less tense, rest, or take one's ease
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
the state of being asleep
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
push forcefully
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
torturedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃərd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
transfixedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɪkst/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
viselikeadjective
clamped as in a vise
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
at the time that
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _The Fourth Pew._ For a long moment Betty stood transfixed with the electric torch rigid in her hand and her eyes held by the insolent challenging ones so near hers.
wrenchedverbUS /rentʃt/
past form of “wrench” — twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates
From this reading Then with an almost physical effort she wrenched her gaze away just as his cynical voice, drawling no longer, but keen with malign exultation, cut the silence like a knife thrust.
wristnounUS /rɪst/
a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
From this reading He sprang from his chair with the agility of a cat and seized her wrist in a viselike grip which forced her tortured fingers to relax their hold and the torch clattered to the hearth.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You venture forth from your hiding place at night when all are sleeping, to nibble at forbidden dainties, eh?"
