used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
ALIVEadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading BURIED ALIVE.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At the same instant the snow-house was shaken as if by an earthquake.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The party uttered a cry of terror, and Penellan hurried outside.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same instant the snow-house was shaken as if by an earthquake.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
the act of breaking something
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
placed in a grave
From this reading BURIED ALIVE.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
casksnounUS /kæsks/
plural of “cask” — the quantity a cask will hold
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The party uttered a cry of terror, and Penellan hurried outside.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was entirely dark.
the act of departing
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
earthquakenounUS /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/
shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
From this reading At the same instant the snow-house was shaken as if by an earthquake.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading It was entirely dark.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
firewoodnounUS /ˈfaɪərwʊd/
wood used for fuel
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading The party uttered a cry of terror, and Penellan hurried outside.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At the same instant the snow-house was shaken as if by an earthquake.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading At the same instant the snow-house was shaken as if by an earthquake.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was entirely dark.
and nothing more
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The party uttered a cry of terror, and Penellan hurried outside.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The party uttered a cry of terror, and Penellan hurried outside.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The party uttered a cry of terror, and Penellan hurried outside.
Penellan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same instant the snow-house was shaken as if by an earthquake.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading At the same instant the snow-house was shaken as if by an earthquake.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
snow-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the same instant the snow-house was shaken as if by an earthquake.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
suffocatedverbUS /ˈsʌfəkeɪtɪd/
past form of “suffocate” — deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
carry out
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading The party uttered a cry of terror, and Penellan hurried outside.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
communicated in words
From this reading The party uttered a cry of terror, and Penellan hurried outside.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
at the time that
From this reading The evening before the departure, just as they were about to take supper, Penellan was breaking up some empty casks for firewood, when he was suddenly suffocated by a thick smoke.
