used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
highly skilled
From this reading If escape was to be achieved, it must be accomplished at once.
achievedverbUS /əˈtʃiːvd/
past form of “achieve” — to gain with effort
From this reading If escape was to be achieved, it must be accomplished at once.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
bladenounUS /bleɪd/
especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
confined by bonds
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
clinchedadjectiveUS /klɪntʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading If escape was to be achieved, it must be accomplished at once.
executingnounUS /ˈeksəkjuːtɪŋ/
putting a condemned person to death
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
gagverbUS /ɡæɡ/
prevent from speaking out
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
HobartnounUS /ˈhoʊbɑːrt/
a port and state capital of Tasmania
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If escape was to be achieved, it must be accomplished at once.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
a particular point in time
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If escape was to be achieved, it must be accomplished at once.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
on one occasion
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
quickeradverbUS /ˈkwɪkər/
more quickly
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
with speed
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
with speed
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
severedadjectiveUS /ˈsevərd/
detached by cutting
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
SextonnounUS /ˈsekstən/
United States poet (1928-1974)
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Hobart had already revealed his plans, and might appear at any moment for the purpose of executing them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If escape was to be achieved, it must be accomplished at once.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If this bound man was Sexton, the quicker he could be released the better.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the darkness his fingers could do nothing with the knot, but the sharp blade of a knife quickly severed the twisted cloth, and the gag was instantly removed from between the clinched teeth.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE COMING OF A MESSAGE The situation once realized, West worked rapidly.
