used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
atomnounUS /ˈætəm/
(physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A timetable, against his inclination, began to form in his mind.
bendverbUS /bend/
form a curve
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
the lower side of anything
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
detectverbUS /dɪˈtekt/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading What if his great task was nearing its end!
opinion or judgment
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading A timetable, against his inclination, began to form in his mind.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
hopefuladjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpfəl/
having or manifesting hope
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
incipientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪpiənt/
only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading A timetable, against his inclination, began to form in his mind.
insatiableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈseɪʃəbəl/
impossible to satisfy
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading What if his great task was nearing its end!
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
immediately past
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
mawnounUS /mɔː/
informal terms for the mouth
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading A timetable, against his inclination, began to form in his mind.
nearingverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading What if his great task was nearing its end!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
SHACKnounUS /ʃæk/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
superstitionsnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃənz/
plural of “superstition” — an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading What if his great task was nearing its end!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
thrillingadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪlɪŋ/
causing a surge of emotion or excitement
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
timetablenounUS /ˈtaɪmteɪbəl/
a schedule listing events and the times at which they will take place
From this reading A timetable, against his inclination, began to form in his mind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A timetable, against his inclination, began to form in his mind.
Torrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
trestlenounUS /ˈtresəl/
a supporting tower used to support a bridge
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
twinnounUS /twɪn/
either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
twinges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For two weeks his eager, hopeful eyes had been fixed on those twin lines of steel above the trestle, and not an atom of bend could he detect.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What if at last he had choked that insatiable maw on the river bottom!
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE FIGHT IN THE SHACK Big Jim Torrance was thrilling with incipient twinges of a great triumph, though the superstitions of his kind struggled against their display.
