adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
ain't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
checkedadjectiveUS /tʃekt/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading He swung round, crouching with a yellow upward glare.
curtainnounUS /ˈkɜːrtən/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
deadlyadjectiveUS /ˈdedli/
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
dognounUS /dɔːɡ/
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
doorwaynounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪ/
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
excitedlyadverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪtədli/
with excitement; in an excited manner
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
feelverbUS /fiːl/
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
fullyadverbUS /ˈfʊli/
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading He swung round, crouching with a yellow upward glare.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
Heyst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
holdverbUS /hoʊld/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
hurledverbUS /hɜːrld/
past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
knifenounUS /naɪf/
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
mutteredverbUS /ˈmʌtərd/
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
RicardonounUS /rɪˈkɑːrdoʊ/
English economist who argued that the laws of supply and demand should operate in a free market (1772-1823)
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He swung round, crouching with a yellow upward glare.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
shotnounUS /ʃɑːt/
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
shoulderverbUS /ˈʃoʊldər/
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
strengthnounUS /streŋkθ/
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
swungverbUS /swʌŋ/
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading He swung round, crouching with a yellow upward glare.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The feel more than the strength of the girl's hand, clutching at his shoulder, checked him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
thunderboltnounUS /ˈθʌndərbɔːlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I shall be shot down like a dog if I ain't quick,” Ricardo muttered excitedly to the girl.
unexpectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd/
not expected or anticipated
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading He swung round, crouching with a yellow upward glare.
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Heyst had paused on the veranda, or in the very doorway.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He swung round, crouching with a yellow upward glare.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He stooped to get hold of his knife; and the next moment would have hurled himself out through the curtain, nearly, as prompt and fully as deadly to Heyst as an unexpected thunderbolt.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading He swung round, crouching with a yellow upward glare.
