used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
anew
From this reading When they came to the little open amphitheatre in the forest MacDonald halted again.
Aldous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
amphitheatrenounUS /ˈæmfəθiˈeɪtər/
a sloping gallery with seats for spectators (as in an operating room or theater)
From this reading When they came to the little open amphitheatre in the forest MacDonald halted again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When they came to the little open amphitheatre in the forest MacDonald halted again.
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
chokingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃoʊ.kɪŋ/
Causing difficulty in breathing.
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
coulee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading "It wasn't far--from here!" he panted.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading When they came to the little open amphitheatre in the forest MacDonald halted again.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "It wasn't far--from here!" he panted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading When they came to the little open amphitheatre in the forest MacDonald halted again.
hammersnounUS /ˈhæmərz/
plural of “hammer” — the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "It wasn't far--from here!" he panted.
huskyadjectiveUS /ˈhʌski/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When they came to the little open amphitheatre in the forest MacDonald halted again.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It wasn't far--from here!" he panted.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When they came to the little open amphitheatre in the forest MacDonald halted again.
MacDonald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
mountaineer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading When they came to the little open amphitheatre in the forest MacDonald halted again.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
pantedverbUS /ˈpæntɪd/
past form of “pant” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading "It wasn't far--from here!" he panted.
pathlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
done under pressure
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/
so extremely intense as to evoke screams
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
move hurridly
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
taxedverbUS /tækst/
past form of “tax” — levy a tax on
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Not until they had rushed up out of the coulee and had reached the pathlike trail did the screaming cease.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It wasn't far--from here!" he panted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Their hearts were thumping like hammers, and the old mountaineer's voice came husky and choking when he spoke.
at the time that
From this reading When they came to the little open amphitheatre in the forest MacDonald halted again.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For barely an instant MacDonald paused, and then ran on with a speed that taxed Aldous to keep up.
