used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She contracted her eyebrows and seemed to be prepared for a spring, ready to jump.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She contracted her eyebrows and seemed to be prepared for a spring, ready to jump.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked at those lips.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She contracted her eyebrows and seemed to be prepared for a spring, ready to jump.
exhale hard
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She leaped forward two or three times, but without success.
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
eyebrowsnounUS /ˈaɪbraʊz/
plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye
From this reading She contracted her eyebrows and seemed to be prepared for a spring, ready to jump.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading She leaped forward two or three times, but without success.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked at those lips.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
Hippolyte
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading She contracted her eyebrows and seemed to be prepared for a spring, ready to jump.
killingnounUS /ˈkɪlɪŋ/
an event that causes someone to die
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading She leaped forward two or three times, but without success.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He looked at those lips.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked at those lips.
night-moth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She leaped forward two or three times, but without success.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
participatingadjectiveUS /pɑːrˈtɪsəpeɪtɪŋ/
taking part in an activity
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading She contracted her eyebrows and seemed to be prepared for a spring, ready to jump.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
prudencenounUS /ˈpruːdəns/
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading She contracted her eyebrows and seemed to be prepared for a spring, ready to jump.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She contracted her eyebrows and seemed to be prepared for a spring, ready to jump.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
slyadjectiveUS /slaɪ/
marked by skill in deception
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
the season of growth
From this reading She contracted her eyebrows and seemed to be prepared for a spring, ready to jump.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading She leaped forward two or three times, but without success.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He looked at those lips.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading She leaped forward two or three times, but without success.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading She leaped forward two or three times, but without success.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She leaped forward two or three times, but without success.
ungracefullyadverb
without grace; rigidly
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
wingedadjectiveUS /wɪŋd/
having wings or as if having wings of a specified kind
From this reading She watched for it with sly prudence; she wanted, with one killing blow, to shut up in the palm of her hand the winged prey that was whirling restlessly around the light.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were slightly contracted, not ungracefully, participating in the intense attention with which Hippolyte waited for an opportunity to seize the night-moth.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She leaped forward two or three times, but without success.
