used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His foot, too, struck an obstruction which caused him to lose balance.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading To avoid falling on Tom, he put out his arms toward the walls.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading To avoid falling on Tom, he put out his arms toward the walls.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading His foot, too, struck an obstruction which caused him to lose balance.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
brickworknoun
masonry done with bricks and mortar
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
bruisesnounUS /ˈbruːzəz/
plural of “bruise” — an injury that doesn't break the skin but results in some discoloration
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
caressedverbUS /kərˈest/
past form of “caress” — touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading His foot, too, struck an obstruction which caused him to lose balance.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
crumblingverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
exclamationsnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃənz/
plural of “exclamation” — an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading To avoid falling on Tom, he put out his arms toward the walls.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading His foot, too, struck an obstruction which caused him to lose balance.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading His foot, too, struck an obstruction which caused him to lose balance.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
a particular point in time
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
mutteringnounUS /ˈmʌtərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
obstructionnounUS /əbˈstrʌkʃən/
any structure that makes progress difficult
From this reading His foot, too, struck an obstruction which caused him to lose balance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To avoid falling on Tom, he put out his arms toward the walls.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading To avoid falling on Tom, he put out his arms toward the walls.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading To avoid falling on Tom, he put out his arms toward the walls.
RESCUEverbUS /ˈreskjuː/
free from harm or evil
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
ruefuladjectiveUS /ˈruːfəl/
feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Instead of meeting solid brickwork as before, however, he felt his hands encounter crumbling earth.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading His foot, too, struck an obstruction which caused him to lose balance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To avoid falling on Tom, he put out his arms toward the walls.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
male cat
From this reading RESCUE AT HAND For a moment Tom could be heard muttering rueful exclamations as he caressed his bruises.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading His foot, too, struck an obstruction which caused him to lose balance.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading To avoid falling on Tom, he put out his arms toward the walls.
hard to endure
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading To avoid falling on Tom, he put out his arms toward the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His foot, too, struck an obstruction which caused him to lose balance.
which person or people
From this reading Jack who was next in line was trying to help him to his feet.
