used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
accompanyverbUS /əˈkʌmpəni/
be present or associated with an event or entity
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
(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 Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
complicatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd/
difficult to analyze or understand
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
comprehendedadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmprɪˈhendɪd/
fully understood or grasped
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
deputynounUS /ˈdepjəti/
someone authorized to exercise the powers of sheriff in emergencies
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
a young female
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
guidedadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdəd/
subject to guidance or control especially after launching
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
an instinctive motive
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
involvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlvd/
connected by participation or association or use
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
the force of workers available
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
and nothing more
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
overturnedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərtɜːrnd/
having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
sheriffnounUS /ˈʃerəf/
the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading The situation had thus been rendered more complicated, more difficult to solve, and I could only act on impulse, or as guided by these new conditions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A GIRL AT BAY I drew back hastily, but in silence, eager to get away before the sheriff and his deputy should return to their seats by the porch rail.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
a message informing of danger
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Beyond all question, those I had hoped to serve were already aware of their position--someone had reached them before me--and two, at least, were already in hiding.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why the third, the one most deeply involved, had failed to accompany the others, could not be comprehended.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading My original plan of warning the women of the house of their peril was blocked, completely overturned by the presence of these men.
