used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
abnormaladjectiveUS /æbˈnɔːrməl/
not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The confined air about him grew close, narcotic.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The confined air about him grew close, narcotic.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Louder than before came to his ears the roar of the fire.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Louder than before came to his ears the roar of the fire.
child-brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The confined air about him grew close, narcotic.
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading The confined air about him grew close, narcotic.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Louder than before came to his ears the roar of the fire.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Louder than before came to his ears the roar of the fire.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading Occasionally a hot tongue of flame intruded mockingly into the mouth of his retreat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The confined air about him grew close, narcotic.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The confined air about him grew close, narcotic.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Louder than before came to his ears the roar of the fire.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Occasionally a hot tongue of flame intruded mockingly into the mouth of his retreat.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Occasionally a hot tongue of flame intruded mockingly into the mouth of his retreat.
intrudedverbUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdəd/
past form of “intrude” — enter uninvited
From this reading Occasionally a hot tongue of flame intruded mockingly into the mouth of his retreat.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
LouderadjectiveUS /ˈlaʊdər/
comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Louder than before came to his ears the roar of the fire.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
mockinglyadverb
in a disrespectful jeering manner
From this reading Occasionally a hot tongue of flame intruded mockingly into the mouth of his retreat.
not in physical motion
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Occasionally a hot tongue of flame intruded mockingly into the mouth of his retreat.
narcoticadjectiveUS /nɑːrˈkɑːtɪk/
of or relating to or designating narcotics
From this reading The confined air about him grew close, narcotic.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading Occasionally a hot tongue of flame intruded mockingly into the mouth of his retreat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
by chance
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
premonitionnounUS /preməˈnɪʃən/
a feeling of evil to come
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading Occasionally a hot tongue of flame intruded mockingly into the mouth of his retreat.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading Louder than before came to his ears the roar of the fire.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Louder than before came to his ears the roar of the fire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the space of perhaps a minute Ben lay motionless.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Louder than before came to his ears the roar of the fire.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading Occasionally a hot tongue of flame intruded mockingly into the mouth of his retreat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He expected to die, and with the premonition of death an abnormal activity came to the child-brain.
