used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/
having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
BernardnounUS /bərˈnɑːrd/
French physiologist noted for research on secretions of the alimentary canal and the glycogenic function of the liver (1813-1878)
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Don’t shoot!” he called out.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don’t shoot!” he called out.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
involuntaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlənteri/
not subject to the control of the will
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
muzzlenounUS /ˈmʌzəl/
the open circular discharging end of a gun
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
not any; not one
From this reading “No!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
ominouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːmənəsli/
in an ominous manner
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Don’t shoot!” he called out.
the local environment
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
hit with a missile from a weapon
From this reading Don’t shoot!” he called out.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bernard had never before had occasion to look into the small and ominously black muzzle of a loaded revolver.
twitchingnounUS /ˈtwɪtʃɪŋ/
a sudden muscle spasm; especially one caused by a nervous condition
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading An involuntary twitching seized upon his muscles as he did so now, but his presence of mind did not desert him.
communicated in words
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The words shook as he uttered them, and seemed to his nervously acute hearing to be crowded parts of a single sound.
