used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
CAPTIVESnounUS /ˈkæptɪvz/
plural of “captive” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
captorsnounUS /ˈkæptərz/
plural of “captor” — a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
chief'snounUS /tʃiːfs/
possessive form of “chief” — a person who is in charge
From this reading It was now the chief's turn to show a look of surprise.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
demandingadjectiveUS /dɪˈmændɪŋ/
requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
emphasisnounUS /ˈemfəsəs/
special importance or significance
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
imperiouslyadverb
in an imperious manner
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It was now the chief's turn to show a look of surprise.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
a particular point in time
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
nettledadjectiveUS /ˈnetəld/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was now the chief's turn to show a look of surprise.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
powerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərləs/
lacking power
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
RESCUEverbUS /ˈreskjuː/
free from harm or evil
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It was now the chief's turn to show a look of surprise.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading It was now the chief's turn to show a look of surprise.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RESCUE OF FIVE CAPTIVES The question for the moment nettled John.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It may not have occurred to him that such a question was out of place.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading It was now the chief's turn to show a look of surprise.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Here was a prisoner, powerless in his hands, imperiously demanding of his captors what they wanted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
in the company of; together with
From this reading John drew himself up, and with that piercing glance which he could give, leaned forward, and slowly, but with terrible emphasis, answered: "Nothing."
