used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A hasty glance over my shoulder showed me that the back of the car was clear.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading A hasty glance over my shoulder showed me that the back of the car was clear.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
chauffeur'snounUS /ʃoʊˈfɜːrz/
possessive form of “chauffeur” — a man paid to drive a privately owned car
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
rid of obstructions
From this reading A hasty glance over my shoulder showed me that the back of the car was clear.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
furiouslyadverbUS /ˈfjʊriəsli/
(of the elements) in a wild and stormy manner
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading A hasty glance over my shoulder showed me that the back of the car was clear.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading A hasty glance over my shoulder showed me that the back of the car was clear.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
limousinenounUS /ˈlɪməziːn/
large luxurious car; usually driven by a chauffeur
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
the force of workers available
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
pedalsnounUS /ˈpedəlz/
plural of “pedal” — a sustained bass note
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
pushverbUS /pʊʃ/
move with force
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
reverseverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrs/
change to the contrary
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading A hasty glance over my shoulder showed me that the back of the car was clear.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading A hasty glance over my shoulder showed me that the back of the car was clear.
slamverbUS /slæm/
close violently
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
refrain from harming
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
suddennessnounUS /ˈsʌdənnəs/
the quality of happening with headlong haste or without warning
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A hasty glance over my shoulder showed me that the back of the car was clear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
throttleverbUS /ˈθrɑːtəl/
place limits on (extent or amount or access)
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
propel through the air
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
tiresnounUS /ˈtaɪərz/
plural of “tire” — hoop that covers a wheel
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One of the men caught at me as we began to move, but the suddenness of our starting helped the push I gave him to throw him off his balance.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
vaultedadjectiveUS /ˈvɔːltɪd/
having a hemispherical vault or dome
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading AND HOW WE BROUGHT HOME A DIFFICULTY It was a matter of seconds.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading I vaulted over the spare tires into the chauffeur's seat, pulling the throttle open while I felt for my pedals; and as I did so, I heard the door of the limousine slam behind me.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I jerked in the reverse and raised my feet; and with a roar and a stream of blue smoke, the machine swung backward across the street, while I twisted furiously at the wheel.
