used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "When did you guess it?" he muttered, forcing a sneering grin to his face.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The reporter's face went white.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
forcingverbUS /ˈfɔːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “force” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means
From this reading "When did you guess it?" he muttered, forcing a sneering grin to his face.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/
with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
grinnounUS /ɡrɪn/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading "When did you guess it?" he muttered, forcing a sneering grin to his face.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading "When did you guess it?" he muttered, forcing a sneering grin to his face.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "When did you guess it?" he muttered, forcing a sneering grin to his face.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading "When did you guess it?" he muttered, forcing a sneering grin to his face.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
Phantom's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
reporter'snounUS /rɪˈpɔːrtərz/
possessive form of “reporter” — a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories
From this reading The reporter's face went white.
rigidlyadverbUS /ˈrɪdʒɪdli/
in a rigid manner
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
sneeringadjectiveUS /ˈsnɪrɪŋ/
expressive of contempt
From this reading "When did you guess it?" he muttered, forcing a sneering grin to his face.
squirmverbUS /skwɜːrm/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
not in physical motion
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The reporter's face went white.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
twistverbUS /twɪst/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a look of great fear in his eyes, and for several moments he seemed incapable of motion.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The reporter's face went white.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
at the time that
From this reading "When did you guess it?" he muttered, forcing a sneering grin to his face.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
a Caucasian
From this reading The reporter's face went white.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With lips gaping, he lay rigidly still, staring into the Phantom's hard face.
wriggleverbUS /ˈrɪɡəl/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading Then he began to wriggle, twist, and squirm, but his efforts were rendered futile by the knee on his chest and the firm clutch in which his hands were held.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "When did you guess it?" he muttered, forcing a sneering grin to his face.
