used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
Akerley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A girl stood beside the bed, staring at him wide-eyed.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading A girl stood beside the bed, staring at him wide-eyed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
next to; at the side of
From this reading A girl stood beside the bed, staring at him wide-eyed.
brighteningverbUS /ˈbraɪtənɪŋ/
-ing form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
the first light of day
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
embarrassedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəst/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
fractionnounUS /ˈfrækʃən/
a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
a young female
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
injuredadjectiveUS /ˈɪndʒərd/
harmed
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
jerkverbUS /dʒɜːrk/
pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
leaptverbUS /lept/
inflected form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
Identical; not different.
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading A girl stood beside the bed, staring at him wide-eyed.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A girl stood beside the bed, staring at him wide-eyed.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
in a swift manner
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading He could not have leapt back to consciousness more swiftly and violently if a knife had been driven into him.
visiblyadverbUS /ˈvɪzəbli/
in a visible manner
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
at the time that
From this reading THE GIRL AND THE MAN The twilight of dawn was brightening over the clearing when Akerley was suddenly awakened by the grip of fingers on his injured shoulder.
wide-eyedadjective
exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity
From this reading A girl stood beside the bed, staring at him wide-eyed.
winkverbUS /wɪŋk/
signal by winking
From this reading The look of fear gave place to one of relief, and that changed in a wink to an expression of polite and embarrassed surprise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He sat up with a jerk and opened his eyes in the same instant of time; and fear shone visibly in his eyes for a fraction of a second.
