used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a rip, and her arms and throat were free.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
in addition
From this reading These also....
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a rip, and her arms and throat were free.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading There was a rip, and her arms and throat were free.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
blousenounUS /blaʊs/
a top worn by women
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
click-click
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
fasteningsnounUS /ˈfæsənɪŋz/
plural of “fastening” — restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
fendernounUS /ˈfendər/
a barrier that surrounds the wheels of a vehicle to block splashing water or mud
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading There was a rip, and her arms and throat were free.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
kickedverbUS /kɪkt/
past form of “kick” — drive or propel with the foot
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
mercerisedadjective
of cotton thread that has been treated with sodium hydroxide to shrink it and increase its luster and affinity for dye
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
pantedverbUS /ˈpæntɪd/
past form of “pant” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
ripverbUS /rɪp/
tear or be torn violently
From this reading There was a rip, and her arms and throat were free.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
tawdryadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːdri/
tastelessly showy
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Her fingers clutched at the tawdry mercerised silk of her blouse.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a rip, and her arms and throat were free.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These also....
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading There was a rip, and her arms and throat were free.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading She tore at them, and kicked them as they lay about her feet as leaves lie about the trunk of a tree in autumn....
tuggedverbUS /tʌɡd/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a rip, and her arms and throat were free.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was a rip, and her arms and throat were free.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She panted as she tugged at something that gave with a short "click-click," as of steel fastenings; something fell against the fender....
