adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
AgonynounUS /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
answeringadjectiveUS /ˈænsərɪŋ/
replying
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
armnounUS /ɑːrm/
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
boundadjectiveUS /baʊnd/
confined by bonds
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
brainnounUS /breɪn/
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
commandnounUS /kəˈmænd/
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
completelyadverbUS /kəmˈpliːtli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
disjointedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd/
lacking orderly continuity
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
effortnounUS /ˈefərt/
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
extricatedverbUS /ˈekstrəkeɪtɪd/
past form of “extricate” — release from entanglement of difficulty
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
freeverbUS /friː/
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/
the act of acquiring something
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
graduallyadverbUS /ˈɡrædʒuːəli/
in a gradual manner
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
intenseadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtens/
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
jointnounUS /dʒɔɪnt/
(anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if it allows motion)
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
keenadjectiveUS /kiːn/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
keyedadjectiveUS /kiːd/
fitted with or secured by a key
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
LockenounUS /lɑːk/
English empiricist philosopher who believed that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience (1632-1704)
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
loosenverbUS /ˈluːsən/
make loose or looser
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
necknounUS /nek/
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
ouncenounUS /aʊns/
a unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or one twelfth of a troy pound
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
painnounUS /peɪn/
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
pistol-shots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
pressedadjectiveUS /prest/
compacted by ironing
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
prisonernounUS /ˈprɪzənər/
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
prodigous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
pushedverbUS /pʊʃt/
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
reflexesnounUS /ˈriːfleksəz/
plural of “reflex” — an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
releaseverbUS /riˈliːs/
release, as from one's grip
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
rolledadjectiveUS /roʊld/
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
seatnounUS /siːt/
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
setteenoun
a long wooden bench with a back
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
shoulder-blades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
strainnounUS /streɪn/
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
strait-jacket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
strapsnounUS /stræps/
plural of “strap” — an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
strengthnounUS /streŋkθ/
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
succeededverbUS /səkˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
summonedverbUS /ˈsʌmənd/
past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
superhumanadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈhjuːmən/
above or beyond the human or demanding more than human power or endurance
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
swayedverbUS /sweɪd/
past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
teethnounUS /tiːθ/
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
throat-straps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
thrownadjectiveUS /θroʊn/
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The throat-straps pressed against the neck muscles and the strain on the straps could be heard like pistol-shots as the leather stretched under his prodigous efforts.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With every nerve keyed up and his reflexes answering his keen brain, he swayed backward and forward, rolled from side to side until his shoulder-blades were thrown completely out of joint.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Locke struggled with superhuman effort to release himself from the strait-jacket in which he was held prisoner.
workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading The pain was intense, but he summoned every ounce of strength at his command and finally succeeded in getting one of his arms free by gradually working his body toward a settee, where, with his elbow on the seat, he pushed his disjointed arm over his head.
writtenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtən/
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading Agony was written all over his face as at last with a final effort he extricated his arms and was in a position to loosen the straps which bound them, with his teeth.
