used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
accordverbUS /əˈkɔːrd/
go together
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
accusednounUS /əˈkjuːzd/
a defendant in a criminal proceeding
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
commotionnounUS /kəˈmoʊʃən/
a disorderly outburst or tumult
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
confessionnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
Cummerhays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
let fall to the ground
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
an old word for “before”
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
the organ of sight
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
faintedverbUS /ˈfeɪntɪd/
past form of “faint” — pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
focusedadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊkəst/
being in focus or brought into focus
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
justice-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
magistratesnounUS /ˈmædʒɪstreɪts/
plural of “magistrate” — a lay judge or civil authority who administers the law (especially one who conducts a court dealing with minor offenses)
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
Margery's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
mountebanknoun
a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
orbitsnounUS /ˈɔːrbəts/
plural of “orbit” — the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
phrasenounUS /freɪz/
an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
Picot's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
pinverbUS /pɪn/
to hold fast or prevent from moving
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
thunderboltnounUS /ˈθʌndərbɔːlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
the act of using
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
precisely as stated
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
in or at the place that
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
which person or people
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
