used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
breastworknoun
fortification consisting of a low wall
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
BROOMnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
crazedadjectiveUS /kreɪzd/
driven insane
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
desiringverbUS /dɪˈzaɪərɪŋ/
-ing form of “desire” — feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
a Spanish gentleman or nobleman
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
duckedverbUS /dʌkt/
past form of “duck” — to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
to come or go into
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
to a considerable degree
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
inertadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnɜːrt/
unable to move or resist motion
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
jabberingnoun
rapid and indistinct speech
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
Judson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
khaki-clad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
menacingadjectiveUS /ˈmenəsɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
preciseadjectiveUS /prɪˈsaɪs/
sharply exact or accurate or delimited
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
shudderingadjectiveUS /ˈʃʌdərɪŋ/
shaking convulsively or violently
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
sprawledverbUS /sprɔːld/
past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Beside the fallen man and facing Judson the short, heavy, khaki-clad figure of another stood, pistol in hand, menacing the crazed soldier.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
VAULTINGnounUS /ˈvɔːltɪŋ/
(architecture) a vaulted structure
From this reading THE AMERICAN BROOM VAULTING over the stone breastwork Don ducked beneath branches and reached the doorway of the first shelter, desiring to enter cautiously.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a corner poor Judson was crouched, staring, shuddering, jabbering.
WilsonnounUS /ˈwɪlsən/
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading On the floor Wilson lay sprawled out, as one having fallen heavily; inert, unconscious.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Upon the instant he grasped the situation within the small space before him, though its precise explanation did not appear until later.
