used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
Ann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
BangverbUS /bæŋ/
strike violently
From this reading THE LADY FROM THE PRIORY Bang!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
next to; at the side of
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
branchedadjectiveUS /bræntʃt/
resembling a fork; divided or separated into two branches
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
discernverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrn/
detect with the senses
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE LADY FROM THE PRIORY Bang!
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
impelledadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpeld/
urged or forced to action through moral pressure
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading THE LADY FROM THE PRIORY Bang!
most important element
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
and nothing more
From this reading She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
parallelnounUS /ˈperəlel/
something having the property of being analogous to something else
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
percussionnounUS /pərˈkʌʃən/
the act of playing a percussion instrument
From this reading She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
PRIORYnounUS /ˈpraɪəri/
religious residence in a monastery governed by a prior or a convent governed by a prioress
From this reading THE LADY FROM THE PRIORY Bang!
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
reverberatedverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrbəreɪtɪd/
past form of “reverberate” — ring or echo with sound
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
slewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
staccatoadjectiveUS /stəˈkɑːtoʊ/
(music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply
From this reading She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
having a supporting base
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LADY FROM THE PRIORY Bang!
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
tree-trunks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
tyrenounUS /taɪr/
a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea; formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks
From this reading She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
(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 She knew that sound--the staccato percussion of a burst tyre--only too well.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The main road ran parallel with the woods, and, impelled by a friendly curiosity to know if she could be of any help, she branched off at right angles and turned her steps in its direction.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading As she approached she could discern between the tree-trunks a car, slewed round half across the road, and the figure of a woman standing beside it and bending over one of the wheels.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading The noise of the explosion reverberated through the clear summer air, and Ann, returning home from the village by way of a short cut through the woods, smiled to herself as she heard it.
