used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
batedadjectiveUS /ˈbeɪtɪd/
diminished or moderated
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
chokingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃoʊ.kɪŋ/
Causing difficulty in breathing.
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
Comtenoun
French philosopher remembered as the founder of positivism; he also established sociology as a systematic field of study
From this reading “A grenade!” cried M. le Comte, and started for the stair.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “A grenade!” cried M. le Comte, and started for the stair.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
DRAMAnounUS /ˈdrɑːmə/
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading THE UNFOLDING OF THE DRAMA.
exultingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzʌltɪŋ/
joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “A grenade!” cried M. le Comte, and started for the stair.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
grenadenounUS /ɡrəˈneɪd/
a small explosive bomb thrown by hand or fired from a missile
From this reading “A grenade!” cried M. le Comte, and started for the stair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
hurledverbUS /hɜːrld/
past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
INSTINCTIVELYadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading “A grenade!” cried M. le Comte, and started for the stair.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading “A grenade!” cried M. le Comte, and started for the stair.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE UNFOLDING OF THE DRAMA.
Pasdeloup
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
shieldnounUS /ʃiːld/
a protective covering or structure
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading “A grenade!” cried M. le Comte, and started for the stair.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “A grenade!” cried M. le Comte, and started for the stair.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE UNFOLDING OF THE DRAMA.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But Pasdeloup hurled himself before him down the stair, through that choking cloud of smoke.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
UNFOLDINGnounUS /ənˈfoʊldɪŋ/
a developmental process
From this reading THE UNFOLDING OF THE DRAMA.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
in the company of; together with
From this reading INSTINCTIVELY I had caught my companion to me to shield her from the shock, and we stood an instant so with bated breath.
yellsnounUS /jelz/
plural of “yell” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Then a fierce chorus of exulting yells startled us back to action.
