used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
react verbally
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
exhale hard
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
chief'snounUS /tʃiːfs/
possessive form of “chief” — a person who is in charge
From this reading I could see how my chief's face turned livid.
chokingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃoʊ.kɪŋ/
Causing difficulty in breathing.
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
CoilnounUS /kɔɪl/
a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
power to direct or determine
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could see how my chief's face turned livid.
culturedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌltʃərd/
marked by refinement in taste and manners
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
dealtverbUS /delt/
inflected form of “deal” — act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading I could see how my chief's face turned livid.
fiendnounUS /fiːnd/
a cruel wicked and inhuman person
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
with resolute determination
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
a young female
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading My head was whirling.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see how my chief's face turned livid.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I could see how my chief's face turned livid.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
and nothing more
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
lividadjectiveUS /ˈlɪvɪd/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading I could see how my chief's face turned livid.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I could see how my chief's face turned livid.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
rivetverbUS /ˈrɪvət/
direct one's attention on something
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
cut with a saw
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I could see how my chief's face turned livid.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
sobsnounUS /sɑːbz/
plural of “sob” — a dyspneic condition
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Could it be possible, after all, that this gentle, cultured girl was really such a fiend at heart that she could strike down....
TightensverbUS /ˈtaɪtənz/
third-person singular of “tighten” — make tight or tighter
From this reading The Coil Tightens From the breathless silence that followed her answer, she saw that she had somehow dealt her mistress a heavy blow, and the sobs burst out beyond control, choking her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading He had driven another rivet in the chain--just the one it needed to hold it firmly together.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading I could see how my chief's face turned livid.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My head was whirling.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading My head was whirling.
