used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His face was pale and drawn, and his eyes shone with anxiety.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading His face was pale and drawn, and his eyes shone with anxiety.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
bravestadjectiveUS /ˈbreɪvəst/
superlative of “brave” — possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
Chepstow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
door-jamb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading His face was pale and drawn, and his eyes shone with anxiety.
dugoutnounUS /ˈdʌɡaʊt/
either of two low shelters on either side of a baseball diamond where the players and coaches sit during the game
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His face was pale and drawn, and his eyes shone with anxiety.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was pale and drawn, and his eyes shone with anxiety.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
gleanverbUS /ɡliːn/
gather, as of natural products
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
the act of departing
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
indicationnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃən/
something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading His face was pale and drawn, and his eyes shone with anxiety.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
compacted by ironing
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading His face was pale and drawn, and his eyes shone with anxiety.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
having a supporting base
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
male cat
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading Personal, physical danger he understood, it was almost pleasant to him, something that gave life a new interest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He was gripped by a fear he had never known before, a fear that might well come to the bravest.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was listening, straining with every nerve alert to glean the least indication of what was going on outside.
in the company of; together with
From this reading AT BAY In the dugout Tom Chepstow was standing with his ear pressed against the door-jamb.
