adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
antagonistnounUS /ænˈtæɡənəst/
someone who offers opposition
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
breathnounUS /breθ/
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
bushnounUS /bʊʃ/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading In the instant of contact his fingers sought and found the man’s throat.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
dislodgeverbUS /dɪˈslɑːdʒ/
remove or force out from a position
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
draggedverbUS /dræɡd/
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
effortnounUS /ˈefərt/
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
fastenedadjectiveUS /ˈfæsənd/
firmly closed or secured
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading In the instant of contact his fingers sought and found the man’s throat.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading In the instant of contact his fingers sought and found the man’s throat.
franticallyadverbUS /ˈfræntəkəli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
grimadjectiveUS /ɡrɪm/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
heavilyadverbUS /ˈhevəli/
to a considerable degree
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
hurledverbUS /hɜːrld/
past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the instant of contact his fingers sought and found the man’s throat.
instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading In the instant of contact his fingers sought and found the man’s throat.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
kneesnounUS /niːz/
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
leapedverbUS /lept/
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In the instant of contact his fingers sought and found the man’s throat.
muscularadjectiveUS /ˈmʌskjələr/
of or relating to or consisting of muscle
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
necknounUS /nek/
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
shouldersnounUS /ˈʃoʊldərz/
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
silentlyadverbUS /ˈsaɪləntli/
without speaking
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
soughtadjectiveUS /sɔːt/
that is looked for
From this reading In the instant of contact his fingers sought and found the man’s throat.
strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
SuddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
teethnounUS /tiːθ/
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
tenaciouslyadverbUS /təˈneɪʃəsli/
with obstinate determination
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
throatnounUS /θroʊt/
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading In the instant of contact his fingers sought and found the man’s throat.
throwingverbUS /ˈθroʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
tighteradjectiveUS /ˈtaɪtər/
comparative of “tight” — closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
trailnounUS /treɪl/
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Suddenly and silently he leaped forward and downward upon the broad shoulders of his prey.
warriornounUS /ˈwɔːriər/
someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
weakeningnounUS /ˈwiːkənɪŋ/
becoming weaker
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
weightnounUS /weɪt/
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading The weight of the boy’s body hurled the black heavily to the ground, the knees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing himself about in an effort to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while he was weakening and all the while the grim and silent thing he could not see clung tenaciously to him, and dragged him slowly into the bush to one side of the trail.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
wind-pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe.
