used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
anew
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
Ann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Tony lay on the ledge, motionless, with outflung arms and white, upturned face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
blurverbUS /blɜːr/
become glassy; lose clear vision
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
BreathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
chasmnounUS /ˈkæzəm/
a deep opening in the earth's surface
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
culminatingverbUS /ˈkʌlməneɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “culminate” — end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
downwardsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
opinion or judgment
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
immediately past
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Tony lay on the ledge, motionless, with outflung arms and white, upturned face.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
lipnounUS /lɪp/
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
litheadjectiveUS /laɪð/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
not in physical motion
From this reading Tony lay on the ledge, motionless, with outflung arms and white, upturned face.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
and nothing more
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
outflung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tony lay on the ledge, motionless, with outflung arms and white, upturned face.
outwardsadverbUS /ˈaʊtwərdz/
toward the outside
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
by chance
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
precipicenounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
projectingadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
RATSnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
shrinkingnounUS /ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/
process or result of becoming less or smaller
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
slopedadjective
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
thuddingadjective
not clear and resonant; sounding as if striking with or against something relatively soft
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
Tony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tony lay on the ledge, motionless, with outflung arms and white, upturned face.
Tony's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
TRAPnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading RATS IN A TRAP Breathless, her heart thudding painfully in her side, Ann reached the ravine and, throwing herself face downwards on the ground, crawled to the edge.
unmeasuredadjective
not composed of measured syllables; not metrical
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
upturnedadjective
having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom
From this reading Tony lay on the ledge, motionless, with outflung arms and white, upturned face.
verticallyadverbUS /ˈvɜːrtɪkli/
in a vertical direction
From this reading Immediately beneath the brink of the chasm the ground dropped vertically for a few feet, but below that again it sloped gradually outwards, culminating in a broad, projecting ledge which formed the lip of the actual precipice itself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
a Caucasian
From this reading Tony lay on the ledge, motionless, with outflung arms and white, upturned face.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It was by a sheer effort of will that she at last forced herself to open her eyes and peer downward.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading For an instant she closed her eyes, shrinking with a sick dread from what they might show her--Tony's young, lithe body lying broken on the rocks below, or, perhaps, only the dark blur of some awful and unmeasured depth which would never give up its dead.
