used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LEAP FOR LIFE AND FREEDOM.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A LEAP FOR LIFE AND FREEDOM.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this was extremely doubtful.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading But this was extremely doubtful.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
apart from; not including
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading But this was extremely doubtful.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
foamnounUS /foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A LEAP FOR LIFE AND FREEDOM.
set up or found
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading A LEAP FOR LIFE AND FREEDOM.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
LEAPnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading A LEAP FOR LIFE AND FREEDOM.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A LEAP FOR LIFE AND FREEDOM.
set afire or burning
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
literallyadverbUS /ˈlɪtərəli/
in a literal sense
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
mouthsnounUS /maʊðz/
plural of “mouth” — the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
outlawsnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔːz/
plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
ProceedingnounUS /prəˈsiːdɪŋ/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
having a supporting base
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
throbbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this was extremely doubtful.
a Caucasian
From this reading To Tom’s huge delight, they found here, lighted dimly by a reflection from the white foam, a little ledge.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Proceeding thus, with their hearts almost literally in their mouths and with nerves that throbbed painfully, the boys finally reached the side of the rock removed from the shore.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading By standing on this crouching as low as possible they would be safe enough from the bullets—that is, except one or more of the outlaws leaped to the rock.
