used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When at last my head broke through into the air, I hung to the rock, sputtering and gasping.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Half-strangled though I was, I began pawing my way to the surface.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
lacking funds
From this reading When at last my head broke through into the air, I hung to the rock, sputtering and gasping.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
divisible by two
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/
-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading When at last my head broke through into the air, I hung to the rock, sputtering and gasping.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
Half-strangled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-strangled though I was, I began pawing my way to the surface.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading When at last my head broke through into the air, I hung to the rock, sputtering and gasping.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When at last my head broke through into the air, I hung to the rock, sputtering and gasping.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
lariatnounUS /ˈleriət/
a long noosed rope used to catch animals
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
lassonounUS /ˈlæsoʊ/
Belgian composer (1532-1594)
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
immediately past
From this reading When at last my head broke through into the air, I hung to the rock, sputtering and gasping.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
pawingverbUS /ˈpɔːɪŋ/
-ing form of “paw” — scrape with the paws
From this reading Half-strangled though I was, I began pawing my way to the surface.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
scrapingnounUS /ˈskreɪpɪŋ/
(usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
shiververbUS /ˈʃɪvər/
tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
slackenedverbUS /ˈslækənd/
past form of “slacken” — become slow or slower
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
move hurridly
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
sputteringnounUS /ˈspʌtərɪŋ/
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
From this reading When at last my head broke through into the air, I hung to the rock, sputtering and gasping.
not in physical motion
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Half-strangled though I was, I began pawing my way to the surface.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then came a shiver along the lariat and the sensation in my body of scraping against a rock.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Half-strangled though I was, I began pawing my way to the surface.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When at last my head broke through into the air, I hung to the rock, sputtering and gasping.
tightlyadverbUS /ˈtaɪtli/
in a tight or constricted manner
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Half-strangled though I was, I began pawing my way to the surface.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Although I still held on tightly, my speed suddenly slackened, and I knew the old lasso had been cut in two on the rock.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading I hung on and on, even after it seemed I should burst for want of air.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Half-strangled though I was, I began pawing my way to the surface.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Half-strangled though I was, I began pawing my way to the surface.
at the time that
From this reading When at last my head broke through into the air, I hung to the rock, sputtering and gasping.
