AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
believedverbUS /bɪˈliːvd/
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
cavernnounUS /ˈkæv.ərn/
A large, vast underground cave, often filled with forgotten ancient treasures.
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
ChesternounUS /ˈtʃestər/
a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
Chester's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
DESPERATEadjectiveUS /ˈdesprɪt/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE.
directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
exploredverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrd/
past form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
intentionnounUS /ˌɪnˈtentʃən/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
Ivan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
ladnounUS /læd/
a boy or man
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
passageways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
raiseverbUS /reɪz/
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
recognizedadjectiveUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
smoothadjectiveUS /smuːð/
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
stayverbUS /steɪ/
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
VENTUREnounUS /ˈventʃər/
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading A DESPERATE VENTURE.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was very dark there and the lad could not make out his surroundings, but he seemed to have brought up against a solid wall.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Before Ivan could raise a hand to stay him, had such been his intention, Hal had darted across the cavern in the direction from which had come the sound he had recognized as Chester's voice.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He explored the smooth surface with his hands, but could find no opening in that particular spot.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then he came upon one of the narrow passageways and entered it without hesitation, for he believed it was in that direction he would find Chester.
