used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
anew
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
bulletsnounUS /ˈbʊləts/
plural of “bullet” — a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
cursesnounUS /ˈkɜːrsɪz/
plural of “curse” — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
DadnounUS /dæd/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “Nipped them,” Dad declared with satisfaction.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading “Nipped them,” Dad declared with satisfaction.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
furiousadjectiveUS /ˈfjʊriəs/
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
hailverbUS /heɪl/
praise vociferously
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
helter-skelteradjectiveUS /ˌheltərˈskeltər/
lacking a visible order or organization
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
in motion
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
NippedverbUS /nɪpt/
inflected form of “nip” — squeeze tightly between the fingers
From this reading “Nipped them,” Dad declared with satisfaction.
oathsnounUS /oʊðz/
plural of “oath” — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
ownersnounUS /ˈoʊnərz/
plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
pairsnounUS /perz/
plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
pepperingverbUS /ˈpepərɪŋ/
-ing form of “pepper” — add pepper to
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
PROPOSALnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
with speed
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading “Nipped them,” Dad declared with satisfaction.
scramblingverbUS /ˈskræmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “scramble” — to move hurriedly
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
SimultaneouslyadverbUS /ˌsaɪməlˈteɪniəsli/
at the same instant
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
in or at or to some place
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
a lightweight cord
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
moving very fast
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Nipped them,” Dad declared with satisfaction.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A second figure leaped from the corner of the old building and then the gun spoke again.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading From a distance came the roar of a motor thrown open quickly somewhere down the road, a clutch released as if by frantic hands, then an automobile in motion, but moving slowly.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
vicinitynounUS /vəˈsɪnəti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading This time, amid the hail of small bullets came a muffled cry of pain, subdued curses, and a swift scrambling of two pairs of feet taking their owners helter-skelter from the vicinity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A STRANGE PROPOSAL Simultaneously with the sound of peppering bullets came a furious string of oaths.
