Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

(old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

widely separated especially in space

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

plural of “battle” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

plural of “buffet” — a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Katherine, though gasping and shivering, gave minor heed to this elemental rage.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

separation into component parts

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

relating to or being an element

From this reading But Katherine, though gasping and shivering, gave minor heed to this elemental rage.

time without end

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

at any time

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

comparative of “fierce” — marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

characterized by intense emotion

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

(of the elements) in a wild and stormy manner

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted

From this reading But Katherine, though gasping and shivering, gave minor heed to this elemental rage.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)

From this reading But Katherine, though gasping and shivering, gave minor heed to this elemental rage.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

a traditional Irish game resembling hockey; played by two teams of 15 players each

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

an opinion formed by judging something

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

of lesser importance or stature or rank

From this reading But Katherine, though gasping and shivering, gave minor heed to this elemental rage.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

select carefully from a group

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

without pity; in a merciless manner

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

a feeling of intense anger

From this reading But Katherine, though gasping and shivering, gave minor heed to this elemental rage.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

control and direct with or as if by reins

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped apart or lightning splitting a tree

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

past form of “reverberate” — ring or echo with sound

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

put a saddle on

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

a protective covering or structure

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever

From this reading But Katherine, though gasping and shivering, gave minor heed to this elemental rage.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

that is looked for

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading But Katherine, though gasping and shivering, gave minor heed to this elemental rage.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

move fast, noisily, and heavily

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

-ing form of “wage” — carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns)

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading THROUGH THE STORM Bowed low to shield herself against the ever fiercer buffets of the storm, Katherine gave Nelly free rein to pick her own way at her own pace through the blackness.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Whatever terror she might have felt another time at such a storm, her brain had now small room for it.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.

intense anger (usually on an epic scale)

From this reading It was as if the earth's dissolution were at hand--as if the long-gathered wrath of the Judgment Day were rending the earth asunder and hurling the fragments afar into the black abysm of eternity.

obtain by seizing forcibly or violently, also metaphorically

From this reading The rain volleyed into her pitilessly, the wind sought furiously to wrest her from the saddle, the lightning cracked open the heavens into ever more fiery chasms, and the thunder rattled and rolled and reverberated as though a thousand battles were waging in the valley.