used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
annihilationnounUS /əˌnaɪəˈleɪʃən/
destruction by annihilating something
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
bumpedverbUS /bʌmpt/
past form of “bump” — knock against with force or violence
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
traveling across
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
dashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE.
the organ of sight
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
gapnounUS /ɡæp/
a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
gradenounUS /ɡreɪd/
a body of students who are taught together
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
loopholenounUS /ˈluːphoʊl/
an ambiguity (especially one in the text of a law or contract) that makes it possible to evade a difficulty or obligation
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
in motion
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading A NARROW ESCAPE.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
Roy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But Roy's quick eye had noted one loophole of escape,--a gap in the bank.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Truly it was taking a terrible risk to dash the car through it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The boy did not know what lay beyond, and in taking the chance he was running almost as great a risk of annihilation as if he kept straight on.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But to have done the latter would have been to crash into a solid wall of moving freight cars as they bumped across the grade crossing.
