used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHANGE OF IDENTITIES "Pronto!"
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading A CHANGE OF IDENTITIES "Pronto!"
chokingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃoʊ.kɪŋ/
Causing difficulty in breathing.
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
coilsnounUS /kɔɪlz/
plural of “coil” — a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
constrictionnounUS /kənˈstrɪkʃən/
a narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
hissedverbUS /hɪst/
past form of “hiss” — make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
IDENTITIESnounUS /aɪˈdentɪtiːz/
plural of “identity” — the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity
From this reading A CHANGE OF IDENTITIES "Pronto!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
insensibilitynoun
a lack of sensibility
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
Lemberg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
musedverbUS /mjuːzd/
past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CHANGE OF IDENTITIES "Pronto!"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
ProntoadverbUS /ˈprɑːntoʊ/
in a punctual manner
From this reading A CHANGE OF IDENTITIES "Pronto!"
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
To recall to mind.
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
RidleynounUS /ˈrɪdli/
a marine turtle
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
a person, without saying who
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
in or at or to some place
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
They're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
Tolas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The Tolas are after me, or someone they think I am," mused Nat grimly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
look attentively
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading Struggling as he was to keep the coils from choking him into insensibility by their constriction, the detective kept his wits enough to remember that this word was Spanish for "hurry" or "quick."
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The word was hissed out in the darkness from somewhere behind Nat Ridley as he was roughly pulled deeper into the alley.
workersnounUS /ˈwɜːrkərz/
plural of “worker” — a person who works at a specific occupation
From this reading "They're fast workers--must have followed me to the Lemberg apartment and been on the watch.
