used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
conferredverbUS /kənˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “confer” — have a conference in order to talk something over
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Every step forward took her that much nearer danger.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every step forward took her that much nearer danger.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Every step forward took her that much nearer danger.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
a young female
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
GuardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Every step forward took her that much nearer danger.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament.
leadersnounUS /ˈliːdərz/
the body of people who lead a group
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Every step forward took her that much nearer danger.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Every step forward took her that much nearer danger.
not any; not one
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
predicamentnounUS /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
with speed
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament.
resistancenounUS /rɪˈzɪstəns/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament.
Shirley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
sleevenounUS /sliːv/
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Every step forward took her that much nearer danger.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Every step forward took her that much nearer danger.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Shirley realized that she was in a serious predicament.
which person or people
From this reading Two blocks further on the gang came to an abrupt stop, and the two who seemed to be the leaders conferred.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Still she did not wish to betray that she was a girl, so she wiped the tears from her eyes with a quick brush of her sleeve and moved along with the rest without resistance.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading Guarded as she was, she had no hope of escape, and she realized that the situation was rapidly growing worse.
