used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
camouflagedadjectiveUS /ˈkæməflɑːʒd/
made invisible by means of protective coloring
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
anything that covers or conceals
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
Doug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
drainagenounUS /ˈdreɪnədʒ/
emptying something accomplished by allowing liquid to run out of it
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
estimatedverbUS /ˈestəmeɪtəd/
past form of “estimate” — judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
floodedadjectiveUS /ˈflʌdəd/
covered with water
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
gambleverbUS /ˈɡæmbəl/
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
gutternounUS /ˈɡʌtər/
a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
hackedverbUS /hækt/
past form of “hack” — cut with a hacking tool
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
handfulsnounUS /ˈhændfʊlz/
plural of “handful” — a small number or amount
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
heart-beats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
hingedverbUS /hɪndʒd/
past form of “hinge” — attach with a hinge
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
ten 10s
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
the act of departing
From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
MikenounUS /maɪk/
device for converting sound waves into electrical energy
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
power-pack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
proneadjectiveUS /proʊn/
having a tendency (to); often used in combination
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
roadsidenounUS /ˈroʊdsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
S-men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
scrubverbUS /skrʌb/
clean with hard rubbing
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
transport commercially
From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
shreddedadjectiveUS /ˈʃredɪd/
prepared by cutting
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
superhighwaynounUS /ˌsuːpərˈhaɪweɪ/
a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
swordsnounUS /sɔːrdz/
plural of “sword” — a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
TerrynounUS /ˈteri/
English actress (1847-1928)
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
