used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
boomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
intentionally conceived
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
decksnounUS /deks/
plural of “deck” — any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
moving swiftly
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
gymnasiumnounUS /dʒɪmˈneɪziəm/
a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
staying power
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
not any; not one
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
many times at short intervals
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
and nothing more
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
plungingverbUS /ˈplʌndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
poiseverbUS /pɔɪz/
be motionless, in suspension
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
postsnounUS /poʊsts/
plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
not in physical motion
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
successive (without a break)
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
sustainedadjectiveUS /səˈsteɪnd/
maintained at length without interruption or weakening
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
moving very fast
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was that swift movement, and that alone, that saved him from plunging straight down to the depths of the sea or striking the iron decks so far below him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading A thunder boom sounded in his ears and his soul appeared to be flying from his mouth.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There he clung, head downward, sustained only by the grip of his feet on two steel posts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
at the time that
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With quick instinct--it was no conscious effort of will,--he had spread his legs as he fell, turning his feet outward, as he had often done in the gymnasium when hanging from a bar.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Time seemed to stand still and the world to poise on its poles as Ned shot through the narrow opening.
