used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
bracedadjectiveUS /breɪst/
positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
equilibriumnounUS /ˌiːkwəˈlɪbriəm/
a stable situation in which forces cancel one another
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/
comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
provoking horror
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
immensitynoun
unusual largeness in size or extent or number
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
lurchedverbUS /lɜːrtʃt/
past form of “lurch” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
metallicadjectiveUS /məˈtælɪk/
containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
compacted by ironing
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
pulsingnounUS /ˈpʌlsɪŋ/
(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
sinewnoun
a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
make steady
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
strangleverbUS /ˈstræŋɡəl/
kill by squeezing the throat of so as to cut off the air
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
throbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
thumbsnounUS /θʌmz/
plural of “thumb” — the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He lurched to the left, and I swung out into immensity, carried on his back.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
vibrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
at the time that
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading It seemed that the whole tower trembled, vibrated in a horrible, metallic music.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I was sure it was the end, that I should be flung off into space, when with one arm he gripped the gate, braced all his great strength and slowly dragged us back into equilibrium.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading There was nothing else in the world now but myself and him and I ground my teeth and clutched harder.
wristnounUS /rɪst/
a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
From this reading I pressed down my thumbs, I strained every sinew of my wrist and arm in the strangle hold, and I felt the life pulsing out of him in steady throbs.
