used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
(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 But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/
plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
bacillusnounUS /bəˈsɪləs/
aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
bafflednounUS /ˈbæfəld/
people who are frustrated and perplexed
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Even birds were observed to vacate this tract.
broodedverbUS /ˈbruːdɪd/
past form of “brood” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
buzzardsnounUS /ˈbʌzərdz/
plural of “buzzard” — a New World vulture that is common in South America and Central America and the southern United States
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
civilizationnounUS /ˌsɪvəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
embodiedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈbɑːdid/
possessing or existing in bodily form
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
encroachingadjectiveUS /ɪnˈkroʊtʃɪŋ/
gradually intrusive without right or permission
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
divisible by two
From this reading Even birds were observed to vacate this tract.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
impenetrably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
implacableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈplækəbəl/
incapable of being placated
From this reading What was that implacable power?
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
mysteriouslyadverbUS /ˌmɪˈstɪriəsli/
in a cryptic manner
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Even birds were observed to vacate this tract.
occultly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
on one occasion
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
and nothing more
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading What was that implacable power?
RussellnounUS /ˈrʌsəl/
United States religious leader who founded the sect that is now called Jehovah's Witnesses (1852-1916)
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
Russell'snounUS /ˈrʌsəlz/
possessive form of “russell” — United States religious leader who founded the sect that is now called Jehovah's Witnesses (1852-1916)
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
without speaking
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even birds were observed to vacate this tract.
tractnounUS /trækt/
an extended area of land
From this reading Even birds were observed to vacate this tract.
unbaptizedadjective
not having undergone the Christian ritual of baptism
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
unflapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
vacateverbUS /ˈveɪkeɪt/
leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading Even birds were observed to vacate this tract.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading But this fearful death, that brooded silently, impenetrably, mysteriously and occultly over a vast area once the garden of civilization, baffled all attempts at explanation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What was that implacable power?
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even birds were observed to vacate this tract.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was that implacable power?
wheeledadjectiveUS /wiːld/
having wheels; often used in combination
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Only a few sinister buzzards wheeled their flight, with straight, unflapping wings, high above Russell, almost out of sight, as if they were the embodied ghosts of Russell's unbaptized inhabitants.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading We could comprehend the encroaching dead line of the spreading yellow fever bacillus.
