used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
anew
From this reading The men were at the detective again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The men were at the detective again.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The men were at the detective again.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading THE STRANGE FARMER.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men were at the detective again.
a particular point in time
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
panic-strickenadjective
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
cut with a saw
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading THE STRANGE FARMER.
terrificadjectiveUS /tərˈɪfɪk/
very great or intense
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRANGE FARMER.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had heard the terrific report and had seen the ball of fire as it descended, but he did not know for a moment that the man had been creeping up behind him until he saw the stone in his hand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an instant before Nick fully realized the danger that had threatened him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Hall and his comrades were panic-stricken; they could not seem to realize what had happened.
