used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They came on howling, yelling and shouting in a blood-curdling way.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They came on howling, yelling and shouting in a blood-curdling way.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading They retreated slowly, keeping their faces on the approaching mob.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “Fall back, slowly,” said Mr. Bruce, “but keep in this corridor.”
blood-curdling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came on howling, yelling and shouting in a blood-curdling way.
brandishingverbUS /ˈbrændɪʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “brandish” — move or swing back and forth
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
BrucenounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading “Fall back, slowly,” said Mr. Bruce, “but keep in this corridor.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Fall back, slowly,” said Mr. Bruce, “but keep in this corridor.”
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “If they come too near discharge your pistols in their midst,” continued Mr. Bruce.
without stop or interruption
From this reading “If they come too near discharge your pistols in their midst,” continued Mr. Bruce.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
dischargeverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/
complete or carry out
From this reading “If they come too near discharge your pistols in their midst,” continued Mr. Bruce.
distortedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɔːrtəd/
so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading “Fall back, slowly,” said Mr. Bruce, “but keep in this corridor.”
moving swiftly
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
set up or found
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
grimacesnounUS /ˈɡrɪməsɪz/
plural of “grimace” — a contorted facial expression
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
provoking horror
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
howlingnounUS /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/
a long loud emotional utterance
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If they come too near discharge your pistols in their midst,” continued Mr. Bruce.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “Fall back, slowly,” said Mr. Bruce, “but keep in this corridor.”
conformity or harmony
From this reading They retreated slowly, keeping their faces on the approaching mob.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading “If they come too near discharge your pistols in their midst,” continued Mr. Bruce.
mobnounUS /mɑːb/
a disorderly crowd of people
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Fall back, slowly,” said Mr. Bruce, “but keep in this corridor.”
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading “If they come too near discharge your pistols in their midst,” continued Mr. Bruce.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They came on howling, yelling and shouting in a blood-curdling way.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
pistolsnounUS /ˈpɪstəlz/
plural of “pistol” — a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading “If they come too near discharge your pistols in their midst,” continued Mr. Bruce.
retreatednounUS /riˈtriːtəd/
people who have retreated
From this reading They retreated slowly, keeping their faces on the approaching mob.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Fall back, slowly,” said Mr. Bruce, “but keep in this corridor.”
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading They came on howling, yelling and shouting in a blood-curdling way.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading “Fall back, slowly,” said Mr. Bruce, “but keep in this corridor.”
spearsnounUS /spɪrz/
plural of “spear” — a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They came on howling, yelling and shouting in a blood-curdling way.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Fall back, slowly,” said Mr. Bruce, “but keep in this corridor.”
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “If they come too near discharge your pistols in their midst,” continued Mr. Bruce.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They came on howling, yelling and shouting in a blood-curdling way.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The howling mob came hurrying toward them; their faces distorted with horrible grimaces, their arms flying in the air, brandishing spears like the one found in the corridor.
yellingnounUS /ˈjelɪŋ/
uttering a loud inarticulate cry as of pain or excitement
From this reading They came on howling, yelling and shouting in a blood-curdling way.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “If they come too near discharge your pistols in their midst,” continued Mr. Bruce.
