used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Then did our captain come out strong.
clothing in general
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then did our captain come out strong.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
contemplatingverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Then did our captain come out strong.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading “There’s no getting over this thing.”
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
impassableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpæsəbəl/
incapable of being passed
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
a small worthless amount
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
mortalsnounUS /ˈmɔːrtəlz/
plural of “mortal” — a human being
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
not any; not one
From this reading “There’s no getting over this thing.”
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “There’s no getting over this thing.”
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
scaredadjectiveUS /skerd/
made afraid
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Then did our captain come out strong.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then did our captain come out strong.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s no getting over this thing.”
a special situation
From this reading “There’s no getting over this thing.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “There’s no getting over this thing.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
tuckingverbUS /ˈtʌkɪŋ/
-ing form of “tuck” — fit snugly into
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two badly scared mortals were Percy and I, as we turned instinctively to our leader for comfort.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s to be done now, Jack?” asked the former, tucking his hands beneath his arms to warm them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A WAY OUT Three shivering, miserable mortals were we, as we stood there in our wet clothes contemplating the impassable rock which barred the way.
