used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
at or in the front
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Make for the trees, girls; they are our only chance."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "Make for the trees, girls; they are our only chance."
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
opinion or judgment
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Make for the trees, girls; they are our only chance."
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
inertianounUS /ˌɪˈnɜːrʃə/
a disposition to remain inactive or inert
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
infuriateverbUS /ˌɪnˈfjʊrieɪt/
make furious
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
LuckilyadverbUS /ˈlʌkəli/
by good fortune
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
engage in
From this reading "Make for the trees, girls; they are our only chance."
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
not any; not one
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
and nothing more
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Make for the trees, girls; they are our only chance."
precipitateverbUS /prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/
bring about abruptly
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
cut with a saw
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading "The trees!" gasped Betty, feeling herself in the grip of the deadly inertia that one experiences sometimes in a nightmare.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Luckily, the branches of the trees swung low to the ground, or the girls could never have saved themselves.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
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 DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
the act of using
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
wolvesnounUS /wʊlvz/
plural of “wolf” — any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
From this reading DANGER AHEAD Coming toward the girls through the trees, crouched low, sinister eyes fixed upon them, were two great timber wolves.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The girls, terrified as they were, saw at a glance that it would be of no use to run, the movement would only infuriate the beasts and precipitate their attack.
