used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My first instinct was a false one.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
barrelsnounUS /ˈbærəlz/
the amount that many barrels might hold
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
the two together, not just one
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
cockingverbUS /ˈkɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “cock” — tilt or slant to one side
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
defencenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
divisible by two
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
experimentnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənt/
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading My first instinct was a false one.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading My first instinct was a false one.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
and nothing more
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
fasten with a lock
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
manipulatingverbUS /məˈnɪpjəleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “manipulate” — influence or control shrewdly or deviously
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
a particular point in time
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My first instinct was a false one.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
absolutely essential
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading My first instinct was a false one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
re-loading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
Identical; not different.
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Instinct had caused me to put myself in an attitude of defence.
in the direction of
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My first instinct was a false one.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the confusion of terror, I had even forgotten that both barrels were empty, that I had just scattered their contents in the sea.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I raised my gun, at the same moment manipulating the lock, with the design of cocking her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "I thought of re-loading; but a movement of the dog towards me showed that that would be a dangerous experiment; and a third thought or instinct directed me to turn the piece in my hand, and defend myself, if necessary, with the butt.
