used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
acknowledgedadjectiveUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒd/
recognized or made known or admitted
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
aimedverbUS /eɪmd/
past form of “aim” — point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
exhale hard
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
contenting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
exclamationsnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃənz/
plural of “exclamation” — an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
eyelashnounUS /ˈaɪlæʃ/
any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading THE FIGHT.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
Frank'snounUS /fræŋks/
possessive form of “frank” — a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
a boy or man
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
not used up
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
RetreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
smashingnounUS /ˈsmæʃɪŋ/
the act of breaking something into small pieces
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
spectatorsnounUS /ˈspekteɪtərz/
plural of “spectator” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
in a swift manner
From this reading Retreating swiftly, the lad jerked back his head with a quick move, and the blow fell short by an eyelash.
carry out
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIGHT.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading The lieutenant was thrown off his balance by the force of his blow, but Frank did not take advantage of the opening, contenting himself with remaining on guard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a pretty move, and the crowd of spectators acknowledged it with subdued exclamations of delight.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The lieutenant came forward with a leap, and aimed a smashing blow at Frank's head.
