used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed that they would never pass the house which the Germans had used as a base.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading To do so would have meant delay and delay was what they could not afford.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading It seemed that they would never pass the house which the Germans had used as a base.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
the two together, not just one
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading To do so would have meant delay and delay was what they could not afford.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading To do so would have meant delay and delay was what they could not afford.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The distance seemed far greater than when they had first traversed it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading To do so would have meant delay and delay was what they could not afford.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading And so they made no effort to move quietly or secretly now.
enterprisenounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The distance seemed far greater than when they had first traversed it.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The distance seemed far greater than when they had first traversed it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
GermansnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrmənz/
plural of “german” — a person of German nationality
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading The distance seemed far greater than when they had first traversed it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To do so would have meant delay and delay was what they could not afford.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It seemed that they would never pass the house which the Germans had used as a base.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The distance seemed far greater than when they had first traversed it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And so they made no effort to move quietly or secretly now.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading To do so would have meant delay and delay was what they could not afford.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading And so they made no effort to move quietly or secretly now.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It seemed that they would never pass the house which the Germans had used as a base.
not any; not one
From this reading And so they made no effort to move quietly or secretly now.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To do so would have meant delay and delay was what they could not afford.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And so they made no effort to move quietly or secretly now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And so they made no effort to move quietly or secretly now.
go across or through
From this reading It seemed that they would never pass the house which the Germans had used as a base.
with low volume
From this reading And so they made no effort to move quietly or secretly now.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
searchingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
secretlyadverbUS /ˈsiːkrɪtli/
in secrecy; not openly
From this reading And so they made no effort to move quietly or secretly now.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The distance seemed far greater than when they had first traversed it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And so they made no effort to move quietly or secretly now.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
moving very fast
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The distance seemed far greater than when they had first traversed it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed that they would never pass the house which the Germans had used as a base.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
traversedverbUS /ˈtrævərst/
past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over
From this reading The distance seemed far greater than when they had first traversed it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading It seemed that they would never pass the house which the Germans had used as a base.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading To do so would have meant delay and delay was what they could not afford.
at the time that
From this reading The distance seemed far greater than when they had first traversed it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It seemed that they would never pass the house which the Germans had used as a base.
which person or people
From this reading THE ESCAPE Their one chance of escape, as they both realized fully, was to get back to their automobile before the Germans recovered themselves sufficiently to begin searching for those who had brought such swift and terrible disaster upon their enterprise.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To do so would have meant delay and delay was what they could not afford.
