used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
banaladjectiveUS /bəˈnɑːl/
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
bearersnounUS /ˈberərz/
plural of “bearer” — someone whose employment involves carrying something
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
exhale hard
From this reading Then I saw him blow the powder from the surface of the paper into the fire and scan the letter closely through a lens.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
cabinetnounUS /ˈkæbənət/
a piece of furniture resembling a cupboard with doors and shelves and drawers; for storage or display
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading Then I saw him blow the powder from the surface of the paper into the fire and scan the letter closely through a lens.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
consolationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəˈleɪʃən/
the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
gotten under control
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
power to direct or determine
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
dark-colouredadjective
having a dark color
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
dazedadjectiveUS /deɪzd/
in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
dreamilyadverb
in a dreamy manner
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
any strong feeling
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
fataladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtəl/
bringing death
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Then I saw him blow the powder from the surface of the paper into the fire and scan the letter closely through a lens.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
gratefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪtfəli/
with appreciation; in a grateful manner
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
half-incredulous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
intense and profound fear
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
incuriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then I saw him blow the powder from the surface of the paper into the fire and scan the letter closely through a lens.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
lensnounUS /lenz/
a transparent optical device used to converge or diverge transmitted light and to form images
From this reading Then I saw him blow the powder from the surface of the paper into the fire and scan the letter closely through a lens.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
observingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
with low volume
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
move upward
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
cut with a saw
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
scanverbUS /skæn/
examine minutely or intensely
From this reading Then I saw him blow the powder from the surface of the paper into the fire and scan the letter closely through a lens.
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
without speaking
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
with low volume
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
sprinkledverbUS /ˈsprɪŋkəld/
past form of “sprinkle” — distribute loosely
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Then I saw him blow the powder from the surface of the paper into the fire and scan the letter closely through a lens.
sustainverbUS /səˈsteɪn/
lengthen or extend in duration or space
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
tactnounUS /tækt/
consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
carry out
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then I saw him blow the powder from the surface of the paper into the fire and scan the letter closely through a lens.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
Thorndyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Then I saw him blow the powder from the surface of the paper into the fire and scan the letter closely through a lens.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
unbrokenadjectiveUS /ənˈbroʊkən/
marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
unconsciouslyadverbUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːnʃəsli/
without awareness
From this reading Still dazed and half-incredulous, I sat with my elbows on the table and my teeth clenched hard, looking dreamily across the room, half unconsciously observing my two friends as they silently examined the fatal letter.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
undisturbedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈstɜːrbd/
untroubled by interference or disturbance
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading I saw Thorndyke rise softly and take a small bottle from a cabinet, and watched him incuriously as he sprinkled on the paper some of the dark-coloured powder that it contained.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The silence of the room remained unbroken for a quite considerable time after the two bearers had passed out with their dreadful burden.
the words that are spoken
From this reading My two friends sat apart and, with a tact of which I was gratefully sensible, left me quietly undisturbed by banal words of consolation, to sustain the first shock of grief and horror and get my emotion under control.
