(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading White-faced and despairing, they stood there in their tracks for several minutes.
AREauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE BOYS ARE TRAPPED.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading THE BOYS ARE TRAPPED.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
coilsnounUS /kɔɪlz/
plural of “coil” — a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
dangledverbUS /ˈdæŋɡəld/
past form of “dangle” — hang freely
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading White-faced and despairing, they stood there in their tracks for several minutes.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
divisible by two
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading White-faced and despairing, they stood there in their tracks for several minutes.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
and nothing more
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading White-faced and despairing, they stood there in their tracks for several minutes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
numbingadjectiveUS /ˈnʌmɪŋ/
causing numbness or insensitivity
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
and nothing more
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
overwhelmingadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading White-faced and despairing, they stood there in their tracks for several minutes.
snakesnounUS /sneɪks/
plural of “snake” — limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
stupidlyadverbUS /ˈstuːpədli/
in a stupid manner
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
tantalizinglyadverbUS /ˈtæntəlaɪzɪŋli/
in a tantalizing manner
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BOYS ARE TRAPPED.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
in or at that place or location
From this reading White-faced and despairing, they stood there in their tracks for several minutes.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
bound or secured closely
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/
plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading White-faced and despairing, they stood there in their tracks for several minutes.
TRAPPEDadjectiveUS /træpt/
forced to turn and face attackers
From this reading THE BOYS ARE TRAPPED.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They stood stupidly gazing at the chain which formed their only hope of escape.
a Caucasian
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
White-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White-faced and despairing, they stood there in their tracks for several minutes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The numbing sense that comes with an overwhelming disaster tied the tongues of all three boys in this crisis.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It dangled tantalizingly just out of reach, even if it would not have meant death in the white snakes’ coils to have attempted to reach it.
