used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
abstractionnounUS /æbˈstrækʃən/
a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
anew
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
alcovesnounUS /ˈælkoʊvz/
plural of “alcove” — a small recess opening off a larger room
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
cliffnounUS /klɪf/
a steep high face of rock
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
couplesnounUS /ˈkʌpəlz/
plural of “couple” — a pair who associate with one another
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
eventuallyadverbUS /ɪˈventʃəwəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
a young female
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.
half-annoyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
half-startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
hand-rail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
the act of retaining something
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
inclinenounUS /ˌɪnˈklaɪn/
an elevated geological formation
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
intrusionnounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːʒən/
any entry into an area not previously occupied
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
and nothing more
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
set afire or burning
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
a particular point in time
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
overlookedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkt/
not taken into account
From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
reechoed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
having a supporting base
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
stumblingverbUS /ˈstʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In his first abstraction he had overlooked these.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
tunnel'snounUS /ˈtʌnəlz/
possessive form of “tunnel” — a passageway through or under something, usually underground (especially one for trains or cars)
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He waited a moment, half-startled, half-annoyed at their intrusion, then groped his way after them, eventually stumbling out of the tunnel's mouth.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading He turned to go back and descend to the shore below, but just then he heard a strange whispering that reechoed through the passages.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading And, as he descended the incline again, he became aware of other couples standing about in the shadows, within alcoves of the cliff, or seated on the grassy slope just outside the wooden hand-rail.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A flash of light seemed to fly down the long gallery, driving the darkness before it, and then a young man and a girl passed by, the former holding a lighted match.
