used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We must fling open the door and rush in.”
archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/
a passageway under a curved masonry construction
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If I say 'Hold him', pin the fellows down, whoever they are.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
the act of burning something
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
convulsionnounUS /kənˈvʌlʃən/
a sudden uncontrollable attack
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
cowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading We must fling open the door and rush in.”
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading If I say 'Hold him', pin the fellows down, whoever they are.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
apart from; not including
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
opinion or judgment
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading If I say 'Hold him', pin the fellows down, whoever they are.
flingverbUS /flɪŋ/
throw with force or recklessness
From this reading We must fling open the door and rush in.”
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
let have
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If I say 'Hold him', pin the fellows down, whoever they are.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
hissedverbUS /hɪst/
past form of “hiss” — make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading If I say 'Hold him', pin the fellows down, whoever they are.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If I say 'Hold him', pin the fellows down, whoever they are.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We must fling open the door and rush in.”
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
merrimentnoun
a gay feeling
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
a particular point in time
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading We must fling open the door and rush in.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading We must fling open the door and rush in.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
pinverbUS /pɪn/
to hold fast or prevent from moving
From this reading If I say 'Hold him', pin the fellows down, whoever they are.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
RupertnounUS /ˈruːpərt/
English leader (born in Germany) of the Royalist forces during the English Civil War (1619-1682)
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
move hurridly
From this reading We must fling open the door and rush in.”
express in words
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
scoundrelnounUS /ˈskaʊndrəl/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If I say 'Hold him', pin the fellows down, whoever they are.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “The scoundrel may be attempting an escape at this moment.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The four of us cowered instantly under the archway, rigid, except for the old judge and his convulsion of merriment.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We must fling open the door and rush in.”
at the time that
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I say 'Hold him', pin the fellows down, whoever they are.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Now,” hissed Rupert Grant, turning his pale face and burning eyes suddenly over his shoulder, “when I say 'Four', follow me with a rush.
