used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
anew
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
for the reason that
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
set up or found
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
fumbledverbUS /ˈfʌmbəld/
past form of “fumble” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
gluedadjectiveUS /ɡluːd/
affixed or as if affixed with glue or paste
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Reivers heard and looked up and smiled.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Reivers heard and looked up and smiled.
looseningnounUS /ˈluːsənɪŋ/
an occurrence of control or strength weakening
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
MacGregornounUS /məˈɡreɡər/
Scottish clan leader and outlaw who was the subject of a 1817 novel by Sir Walter Scott (1671-1734)
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
on one occasion
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
protrudingadjectiveUS /proʊˈtruːdɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
Reivers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Reivers heard and looked up and smiled.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
stockingedadjective
wearing stockings
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
testedadjectiveUS /ˈtestɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
up to a particular time
From this reading Next he released his right hand and fumbled downward till he found a solid piece of protruding rock.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
toe-holds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
two times
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
twistverbUS /twɪst/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Reivers heard and looked up and smiled.
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 With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Having tested it thoroughly he let go his holds with both feet and left hand and dropped his full weight into the grip of his right.
at the time that
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a twist of his body he threw his stockinged feet forward and caught toe-holds on the rough surface of the wall.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Above him, MacGregor, with his face glued to the brink of the opening, gasped twice, once because he was sure Reivers was dropping straight to the bottom, and again when his right hand took the shock of his full weight without loosening its grip.
