adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
battlenounUS /ˈbætəl/
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
bellowedverbUS /ˈbeloʊd/
past form of “bellow” — shout loudly and without restraint
From this reading "Come on!" bellowed Teddy.
blowsnounUS /bloʊz/
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
brilliantlyadverbUS /ˈbrɪljəntli/
with brightness
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
ComeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Come on!" bellowed Teddy.
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
ENEMYnounUS /ˈenəmi/
an opposing military force
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
facesnounUS /ˈfeɪsəz/
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
gaspedverbUS /ɡæspt/
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading "Wha--what--" he gasped.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
HANDSnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Wha--what--" he gasped.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
landingnounUS /ˈlændɪŋ/
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
laughingadjectiveUS /ˈlæfɪŋ/
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
lightedadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪtəd/
set afire or burning
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
preparedadjectiveUS /priˈperd/
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
semi-circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
sharplyadverbUS /ˈʃɑːrpli/
in an aggressive manner
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
sledge-hammer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
squaredadjectiveUS /skwerd/
having been made square
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
TeddynounUS /ˈtedi/
plaything consisting of a child's toy bear (usually plush and stuffed with soft materials)
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his hands fell sharply to his sides.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the empty air.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces.
Wha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wha--what--" he gasped.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Wha--what--" he gasped.
