used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Both arms shot out before him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
Barnes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
Barnes's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was Barnes's moment.
bear'snounUS /berz/
possessive form of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Both arms shot out before him.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both arms shot out before him.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
furnounUS /fɜːr/
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
haunches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Both arms shot out before him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
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 Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
lungsnounUS /lʌŋz/
plural of “lung” — either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
a particular point in time
From this reading This was Barnes's moment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Both arms shot out before him.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Both arms shot out before him.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
SinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
suffocatingadjectiveUS /ˈsʌfəkeɪtɪŋ/
causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was Barnes's moment.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the suffocating confusion his clutching fingers encountered the bear's haunches.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was Barnes's moment.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sinking into the long fur, they closed upon it with a grip of steel.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then, instinctively, Barnes shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, and waited for the shock, while his lungs felt as if they would burst in another moment.
