used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I had landed on top of the slide, and I seemed to be tied in a knot.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
COMMISSIONnounUS /kəˈmɪʃən/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
dumb-waiter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
set up or found
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
half-crouching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
half-lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading I had landed on top of the slide, and I seemed to be tied in a knot.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading I had landed on top of the slide, and I seemed to be tied in a knot.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
engage in
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I had landed on top of the slide, and I seemed to be tied in a knot.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
pinionedadjective
(of birds) especially having the flight feathers
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I had landed on top of the slide, and I seemed to be tied in a knot.
semi-vertical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
slidenounUS /slaɪd/
a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
From this reading I had landed on top of the slide, and I seemed to be tied in a knot.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
bound or secured closely
From this reading I had landed on top of the slide, and I seemed to be tied in a knot.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
the upper part of anything
From this reading I had landed on top of the slide, and I seemed to be tied in a knot.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading When I tried to move, I found I was practically a prisoner: I had fallen into an air shaft, or something of the kind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
at the time that
From this reading MY COMMISSION When I came to, I was lying in darkness, and the stillness was absolute.
in or at the place that
From this reading I could not move my arms, where they were pinioned to my sides, and I was half-lying, half-crouching, in a semi-vertical position.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading I worked one arm loose and managed to make out that my prison was probably the dumb-waiter shaft to the basement kitchen.
