used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
bladenounUS /bleɪd/
especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
bobslednounUS /ˈbɑːbsled/
formerly two short sleds coupled together
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Dan did not lose his head.
claspknife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Dan did not lose his head.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But Dan did not lose his head.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading But Dan did not lose his head.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But Dan did not lose his head.
imminentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmənənt/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
and nothing more
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
kite-string
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading But Dan did not lose his head.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Dan did not lose his head.
obstructionnounUS /əbˈstrʌkʃən/
any structure that makes progress difficult
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
overturnverbUS /ˈoʊvərtɜːrn/
turn from an upright or normal position
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
plungingverbUS /ˈplʌndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
only a very short time before
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
smashverbUS /smæʃ/
hit hard
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
speechlessadjectiveUS /ˈspiːtʃləs/
temporarily incapable of speaking
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
steerverbUS /stɪr/
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
moving very fast
From this reading The girls, breathless from the swift ride, could scarcely scream; and Billy was himself speechless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The heavy bobsled was plunging toward the obstruction, and there was neither time nor space to steer clear of the branch.
triceverbUS /traɪs/
raise with a line
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE “FOLLOW ME” The danger of a smash and overturn was imminent.
whippedverbUS /wɪpt/
inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading In a trice he whipped out his claspknife, sprung open the blade, and just before the collision occurred he cut the kite-string.
