used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
brawnyadjectiveUS /ˈbrɔːni/
(of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading His trusty chum had seen only part of the mishap to Phil.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
ENEMY'SnounUS /ˈenəmiz/
possessive form of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
hold firmly
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
HellonounUS /həˈloʊ/
an expression of greeting
From this reading "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His trusty chum had seen only part of the mishap to Phil.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
mishapnounUS /ˈmɪshæp/
an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
From this reading His trusty chum had seen only part of the mishap to Phil.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/
make less visible or unclear
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
and nothing more
From this reading His trusty chum had seen only part of the mishap to Phil.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading His trusty chum had seen only part of the mishap to Phil.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
releaseverbUS /riˈliːs/
release, as from one's grip
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading His trusty chum had seen only part of the mishap to Phil.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows.
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
trustynounUS /ˈtrʌsti/
a convict who is considered trustworthy and granted special privileges
From this reading His trusty chum had seen only part of the mishap to Phil.
unlooked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
villainnounUS /ˈvɪlən/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply.
Warrington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply.
which person or people
From this reading "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply.
