AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
bleedingnounUS /ˈbliːdɪŋ/
the flow of blood from a ruptured blood vessel
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
burntadjectiveUS /bɜːrnt/
ruined by overcooking
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
cavernousadjectiveUS /ˈkævərnəs/
being or suggesting a cavern
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
crawlingnounUS /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
deathlyadjectiveUS /ˈdeθli/
having the physical appearance of death
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
despairnounUS /dɪˈsper/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
destroyverbUS /dɪˈstrɔɪ/
do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
dreadnounUS /dred/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdredfəl/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
faintnessnounUS /ˈfeɪntnəs/
a feeling of faintness and of being ready to swoon
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
fearverbUS /fɪr/
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
fearingverbUS /ˈfɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
flamenounUS /fleɪm/
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
holenounUS /hoʊl/
an opening into or through something
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
ImpatientlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli/
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A deathly faintness came over her.
panelsnounUS /ˈpænəlz/
plural of “panel” — sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
parentnounUS /ˈperənt/
a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
paroxysms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
pluckverbUS /plʌk/
pull or pull out sharply
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
poundedverbUS /ˈpaʊndɪd/
past form of “pound” — hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
sobbedverbUS /sɑːbd/
inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
stubbornadjectiveUS /ˈstʌbərn/
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
tasknounUS /tæsk/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
threwverbUS /θruː/
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
treacherousadjectiveUS /ˈtretʃərəs/
dangerously unstable and unpredictable
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
undertookverbUS /ˌʌndərˈtʊk/
inflected form of “undertake” — enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Something dreadful seemed to be crawling up from behind, out of the cavernous hole that was always night.
waveringnounUS /ˈweɪvərɪŋ/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading Impatiently she again undertook the task of lighting the lantern, fearing to breathe lest she destroy the wavering, treacherous flame that burnt inside her bleeding hands.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The paroxysms of fear and dread finally gave way to despair, and despair is ever the parent of pluck.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She sobbed as she threw herself against the stubborn door and pounded upon its panels with her hands.
