used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He asked her a few questions when she had finished.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
blamedadjectiveUS /bleɪmd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He did not try to comfort her--and certainly there was no evidence that he blamed her.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He was not seeking to implicate her--she felt certain of that.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He did not try to comfort her--and certainly there was no evidence that he blamed her.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading He did not try to comfort her--and certainly there was no evidence that he blamed her.
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not try to comfort her--and certainly there was no evidence that he blamed her.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading He did not try to comfort her--and certainly there was no evidence that he blamed her.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He was not seeking to implicate her--she felt certain of that.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He asked her a few questions when she had finished.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading He asked her a few questions when she had finished.
set up or found
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He asked her a few questions when she had finished.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
intense and profound fear
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
implicateverbUS /ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/
bring into intimate and incriminating connection
From this reading He was not seeking to implicate her--she felt certain of that.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
incredulousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredʒələs/
not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
a particular point in time
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
not any; not one
From this reading He did not try to comfort her--and certainly there was no evidence that he blamed her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not try to comfort her--and certainly there was no evidence that he blamed her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
and nothing more
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
outburstnounUS /ˈaʊtbɜːrst/
an unrestrained expression of emotion
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading He asked her a few questions when she had finished.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
the act of searching for something
From this reading He was not seeking to implicate her--she felt certain of that.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She expected an outburst; and she found only that after one moment, during which his body became rigid and a look of incredulous horror settled in his eyes, a deadly quiet enveloped him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He did not try to comfort her--and certainly there was no evidence that he blamed her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading He did not try to comfort her--and certainly there was no evidence that he blamed her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
at the time that
From this reading He asked her a few questions when she had finished.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was puzzled by the manner in which he heard her to the end.
