past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading The crisis spelled _now_ and he acted with swift instinct.
adjustedadjectiveUS /əˈdʒʌstɪd/
altered to accommodate to certain requirements or bring into a proper relation
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The crisis spelled _now_ and he acted with swift instinct.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
blazoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
burglarynounUS /ˈbɜːrɡləri/
entering a building unlawfully with intent to commit a felony or to steal valuable property
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
an occurrence of something
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading The crisis spelled _now_ and he acted with swift instinct.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
desperationnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
the organ of sight
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
hallwaynounUS /ˈhɔːlweɪ/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
Harry's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
innocencynoun
an innocent quality or thing or act
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading The crisis spelled _now_ and he acted with swift instinct.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
lipnounUS /lɪp/
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
maskverbUS /mæsk/
hide under a false appearance
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
MATTEREDverbUS /ˈmætərd/
past form of “matter” — have weight; have import, carry weight
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
mind'snounUS /maɪndz/
possessive form of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
used to form the superlative
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The crisis spelled _now_ and he acted with swift instinct.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
by chance
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
retreatingverbUS /riˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “retreat” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
cut with a saw
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
searchingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
servant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
spelledverbUS /speld/
past form of “spell” — orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading The crisis spelled _now_ and he acted with swift instinct.
not in physical motion
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
moving very fast
From this reading The crisis spelled _now_ and he acted with swift instinct.
swiftnessnounUS /ˈswɪftnəs/
a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He snatched the black mask from the floor and adjusted it to his own face, then darted to the safe and jerked open its heavy door.
webnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
wingnounUS /wɪŋ/
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading While the retreating servant's alarm still echoed from the hallway of the empty wing, his fingers, with the swiftness of desperation, went searching the papers in the safe.
wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
in the company of; together with
From this reading WHAT MATTERED MOST With that scream Harry's every nerve had become as tense as wire.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading In his mind's eye he saw her innocency tangled in this hideous web of burglary--perhaps of murder, her name on every lip, her face blazoned in every yellow extra, as the "woman in the case!"
