used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What an opportunity fate had made for him!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
fearingverbUS /ˈfɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What an opportunity fate had made for him!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
huggingnounUS /ˈhʌɡɪŋ/
affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading What an opportunity fate had made for him!
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
Nathaniel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading What an opportunity fate had made for him!
panthernounUS /ˈpænθər/
a large spotted feline of tropical America similar to the leopard; in some classifications considered a member of the genus Felis
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
reappearverbUS /ˌriːəˈpɪr/
appear again
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
the season of growth
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
Strang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading But he held himself back until Strang had passed through the door.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Then he slipped along the log wall of the castle, hugging the shadows, fearing that the king might reappear and see him in time to close the door.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading THE HAND OF FATE Like a panther Nathaniel crouched and watched the man on the steps.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His muscles jerked, his hands were clenched; each instant he seemed about to spring.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What an opportunity fate had made for him!
