afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was after midnight, and Joe sighed in relief.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was after midnight, and Joe sighed in relief.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
dreadingverbUS /ˈdredɪŋ/
-ing form of “dread” — be afraid or scared of; be frightened of
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
set up or found
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
headlightsnounUS /ˈhedlaɪts/
plural of “headlight” — a powerful light with reflector; attached to the front of an automobile or locomotive
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was after midnight, and Joe sighed in relief.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was after midnight, and Joe sighed in relief.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was after midnight, and Joe sighed in relief.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It was after midnight, and Joe sighed in relief.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
go across or through
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
rear-view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading It was after midnight, and Joe sighed in relief.
settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading It was after midnight, and Joe sighed in relief.
slowingnounUS /ˈsloʊɪŋ/
a decrease in rate of change
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
make steady
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He had found himself staring at the rear-view mirror half the time, almost dreading the appearance of any headlights coming from behind.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading He was tired of driving, and the tension had been telling on him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was after midnight, and Joe sighed in relief.
at the time that
From this reading And when they had appeared, he had waited anxiously, slowing the car for the headlights to pass.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They always did, but he continually expected that they would not, that instead they would pull up behind, and settle into steady pursuit.
