used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What shall we do?"
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
made afraid
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
a long fixed look
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
heavedverbUS /hiːvd/
past form of “heave” — utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
and nothing more
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
the force of workers available
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
a particular point in time
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
Identical; not different.
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "What shall we do?"
shieldedadjectiveUS /ˈʃiːldɪd/
(used especially of machinery) protected by a shield to prevent injury
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
express in speech
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
not in physical motion
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
unsteadilyadverb
in an unsteady manner
From this reading "Yes," whispered Billie unsteadily.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What shall we do?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Billie and Nancy, too frightened to speak or move, were as still as one of the old pine trees which had shielded them from the gaze of the two men.
whirrverb
make a soft swishing sound
From this reading As the whirr of the motor died away in the distance, the girls heaved a deep sigh almost at the same moment, as if they had awakened from a terrible dream.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Billie have we just seen a man killed?" whispered Nancy, her knees knocking together with fright.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," whispered Billie unsteadily.
