used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Once more he was among the rocks.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
bulks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
grotesqueadjectiveUS /ɡroʊˈtesk/
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
Hammerless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NINETY-NINE’S MINE Hammerless Hampton stood very still.
HamptonnounUS /ˈhæmptən/
United States musician who was the first to use the vibraphone as a jazz instrument (1913-2002)
From this reading NINETY-NINE’S MINE Hammerless Hampton stood very still.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once more he was among the rocks.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
an opening into or through something
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading NINETY-NINE’S MINE Hammerless Hampton stood very still.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Once more he was among the rocks.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
NINETY-NINE'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NINETY-NINE’S MINE Hammerless Hampton stood very still.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
on one occasion
From this reading Once more he was among the rocks.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
penetratedverbUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪd/
past form of “penetrate” — pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
precipicenounUS /ˈpresəpəs/
a very steep cliff
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Once more he was among the rocks.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
spiedverbUS /spaɪd/
inflected form of “spy” — catch sight of
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
not in physical motion
From this reading NINETY-NINE’S MINE Hammerless Hampton stood very still.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading NINETY-NINE’S MINE Hammerless Hampton stood very still.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Once more he was among the rocks.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
precisely as stated
From this reading NINETY-NINE’S MINE Hammerless Hampton stood very still.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once more he was among the rocks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But these grotesque bulks around him were new; he never had penetrated into this group before.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had spied a hole in what seemed to be the solid precipice, beyond which showed light instead of the usual gloom.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In fact, but for his careful observation of every opening he would not be here now.
