aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
quickly and without warning
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
anew
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
blotnounUS /blɑːt/
a blemish made by dirt
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
captornounUS /ˈkæptər/
a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
derisionnounUS /dərˈɪʒən/
contemptuous laughter
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
destiniesnounUS /ˈdestəniz/
plural of “destiny” — an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading "The earth!
opinion or judgment
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
a long fixed look
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
grinnedverbUS /ɡrɪnd/
inflected form of “grin” — to draw back the lips and reveal the teeth, in a smile, grimace, or snarl
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Home!"
provoking horror
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
inhumanadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈhjuːmən/
without compunction or human feeling
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
man-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
the force of workers available
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
resistedverbUS /rɪˈzɪstɪd/
past form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
not in physical motion
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading It seemed as if they could never tear their eyes away from the sight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
a special situation
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
tuggedverbUS /tʌɡd/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
vainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
in or at the place that
From this reading Two men grinned in derision at the horrible, man-shaped thing that held their destinies in his lean, inhuman hands!--but they turned abruptly away to look again above them where that bright star still shone through an opening in the clouds.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
which person or people
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Their captor whistled an order, and the guard of four tugged vainly at the two, who resisted that they might gaze upon their own world until the closing clouds should blot it from sight.
