adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Came a cry of pain from the stranger in the tent and Hal dashed forward.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNKNOWN ENEMY The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At that moment Hal's figure appeared in the entrance.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At that moment Hal's figure appeared in the entrance.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading AN UNKNOWN ENEMY The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance.
Chester's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
cracksnounUS /kræks/
plural of “crack” — a long narrow opening
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
cryverbUS /kraɪ/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Came a cry of pain from the stranger in the tent and Hal dashed forward.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
dashedadjectiveUS /dæʃt/
having gaps or spaces
From this reading Came a cry of pain from the stranger in the tent and Hal dashed forward.
drawverbUS /drɔː/
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
ENEMYnounUS /ˈenəmi/
an opposing military force
From this reading AN UNKNOWN ENEMY The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance.
entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading AN UNKNOWN ENEMY The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading At that moment Hal's figure appeared in the entrance.
fingerverbUS /ˈfɪŋɡər/
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
flamenounUS /fleɪm/
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
footstepsnounUS /ˈfʊtsteps/
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading AN UNKNOWN ENEMY The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Came a cry of pain from the stranger in the tent and Hal dashed forward.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Came a cry of pain from the stranger in the tent and Hal dashed forward.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Came a cry of pain from the stranger in the tent and Hal dashed forward.
Hal'snounUS /hælz/
possessive form of “hals” — Dutch portrait and genre painter who endowed his portraits with vitality and humor (1580?-1666)
From this reading At that moment Hal's figure appeared in the entrance.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading At that moment Hal's figure appeared in the entrance.
neareradverbUS /ˈnɪrər/
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading AN UNKNOWN ENEMY The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading AN UNKNOWN ENEMY The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance.
painnounUS /peɪn/
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading Came a cry of pain from the stranger in the tent and Hal dashed forward.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
spurtsnounUS /spɜːrts/
plural of “spurt” — the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid)
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
tautadjectiveUS /tɔːt/
pulled or drawn tight
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
tentnounUS /tent/
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At that moment Hal's figure appeared in the entrance.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNKNOWN ENEMY The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
tightenedverbUS /ˈtaɪtənd/
past form of “tighten” — make tight or tighter
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
triggerverbUS /ˈtrɪɡər/
put in motion or move to act
From this reading Chester's finger tightened on the trigger of his revolver, as he saw the stranger in the tent draw himself taut.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
UNKNOWNadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/
not known
From this reading AN UNKNOWN ENEMY The footsteps outside came nearer the entrance.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were two sharp cracks, so close that they seemed as one, and two spurts of flame in the darkness.
