used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
accomplishingverbUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “accomplish” — put in effect
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
anew
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
corrosiveadjectiveUS /kərˈoʊsɪv/
of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
diminishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/
impaired by diminution
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
dozensnounUS /ˈdʌzənz/
a large number or amount
From this reading There were dozens of ways of getting uselessly killed.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
flatsnounUS /flæts/
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading There were dozens of ways of getting uselessly killed.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
hissesnounUS /ˈhɪsɪz/
plural of “hiss” — a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
IntoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading There were dozens of ways of getting uselessly killed.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
LairnounUS /ler/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
pantingnounUS /ˈpæntɪŋ/
breathing heavily (as after exertion)
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
PerrynounUS /ˈperi/
United States philosopher (1876-1957)
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
proneadjectiveUS /proʊn/
having a tendency (to); often used in combination
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
Robot'snounUS /ˈroʊbɑːts/
possessive form of “robot” — a mechanism that can move automatically
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
screamsnounUS /skriːmz/
plural of “scream” — sharp piercing cry
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Into the Robot's Lair Perry lay prone in the high grass.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were dozens of ways of getting uselessly killed.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading So far he hadn't encountered any of that corrosive gas, but hisses, and distant human screams from the flats along the river, told him that it was being used.
uselesslyadverb
in a useless manner
From this reading There were dozens of ways of getting uselessly killed.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was panting and tired, and he felt a little sick again.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading There were dozens of ways of getting uselessly killed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were dozens of ways of getting uselessly killed.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew that whatever chances he had of accomplishing any good here, would be diminished if he waited.
