used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
(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 Now that it seemed all over they felt strangely calm.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Till that time they both determined to keep up stout hearts.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
make calm or still
From this reading Now that it seemed all over they felt strangely calm.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
crucialadjectiveUS /ˈkruːʃəl/
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
characterized by great determination
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Now that it seemed all over they felt strangely calm.
flinchingverbUS /ˈflɪntʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “flinch” — draw back, as with fear or pain
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading FRIENDS IN NEED.
handclaspnounUS /ˈhændklæsp/
grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an introduction or to agree on a contract)
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Till that time they both determined to keep up stout hearts.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FRIENDS IN NEED.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now that it seemed all over they felt strangely calm.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Till that time they both determined to keep up stout hearts.
manacled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
a particular point in time
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading FRIENDS IN NEED.
not any; not one
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that it seemed all over they felt strangely calm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
other's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Now that it seemed all over they felt strangely calm.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Now that it seemed all over they felt strangely calm.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
dependable
From this reading Till that time they both determined to keep up stout hearts.
in a strange manner
From this reading Now that it seemed all over they felt strangely calm.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that it seemed all over they felt strangely calm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
up to a particular time
From this reading Till that time they both determined to keep up stout hearts.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Till that time they both determined to keep up stout hearts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
having come into contact
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Till that time they both determined to keep up stout hearts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The boys touched each other’s manacled hands,—to effect a handclasp was impossible,—as they passed down the stairway.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
at the time that
From this reading They were determined, at all events, to show no sign of flinching when the crucial moment came.
