used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
quickly and without warning
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
have
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
ButtonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/
a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading Fred Button!”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
without deviation
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
F-r-e-d
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
fortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred Button!”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
a particular point in time
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
prolongedadjectiveUS /prəˈlɔːŋd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
having a supporting base
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
in a swift manner
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The call was in a low tone but coming as it did after the startling events which had occurred was almost more than Fred was able to bear.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
moved around an axis or center
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
unstrungadjective
emotionally upset
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
at the time that
From this reading This sound was followed by a prolonged sigh and this in turn was abruptly ended when out of the darkness there came a call, “F-r-e-d!
in or at the place that
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
whistlingnounUS /ˈwɪslɪŋ/
the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
From this reading There had been a moment of intense silence which was sharply broken by a long whistling sound, that seemed to come from some place directly behind the spot where the boys were standing.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading His nerves were unstrung and without a word he turned and swiftly made for the door, which fortunately had been left open.
