AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A COLD SWIM.
accostedverbUS /əˈkɑːstɪd/
past form of “accost” — speak to someone
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
assistancenounUS /əˈsɪstəns/
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
bringverbUS /brɪŋ/
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
COLDadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading A COLD SWIM.
composurenounUS /kəmˈpoʊʒər/
steadiness of mind under stress
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
dodgingnounUS /ˈdɑːdʒɪŋ/
nonperformance of something distasteful (as by deceit or trickery) that you are supposed to do
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
graspverbUS /ɡræsp/
hold firmly
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
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 Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
hurtingnounUS /ˈhɜːrtɪŋ/
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
imminentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmənənt/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
injuringverbUS /ˈɪndʒərɪŋ/
-ing form of “injure” — cause injuries or bodily harm to
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
lad's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
looseadjectiveUS /luːs/
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
necknounUS /nek/
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
pairnounUS /per/
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
pinioning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
reversedadjectiveUS /rɪˈvɜːrst/
turned inside out and resewn
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
risknounUS /rɪsk/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
shakeverbUS /ʃeɪk/
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
strikeverbUS /straɪk/
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
SWIMverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading A COLD SWIM.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
thrownadjectiveUS /θroʊn/
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
tightadjectiveUS /taɪt/
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
unableadjectiveUS /əˈneɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
weaponnounUS /ˈwepən/
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading But the woman herself prevented this, for he was unable to bring the butt of the weapon down on the lad's head without the imminent risk of injuring the woman.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The man who was with her came to her assistance, dodging around the struggling pair with his revolver reversed, held ready to strike.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He tried to shake himself loose without hurting the woman, but so tight was her grasp that he was unable to do so.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Before Hal could recover his composure, which had left him at being so suddenly accosted, the woman had thrown her arms around his neck, pinioning his hands to his side.
