used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
barriersnounUS /ˈbæriərz/
plural of “barrier” — a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
crawlingnounUS /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
Earthmannoun
an inhabitant of the earth
From this reading And then, suddenly, out of the ebon stillness, a voice said: "Welcome, Earthman!"
ebonadjective
of a very dark black
From this reading And then, suddenly, out of the ebon stillness, a voice said: "Welcome, Earthman!"
ever-murkier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
guard-car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
hammeredadjectiveUS /ˈhæmərd/
shaped or worked with a hammer and often showing hammer marks
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He finished the job with it.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He finished the job with it.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
light-pistol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
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 But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
Pervod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
projectedadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektəd/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading And then, suddenly, out of the ebon stillness, a voice said: "Welcome, Earthman!"
Shane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading And then, suddenly, out of the ebon stillness, a voice said: "Welcome, Earthman!"
happening unexpectedly
From this reading And then, suddenly, out of the ebon stillness, a voice said: "Welcome, Earthman!"
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then, suddenly, out of the ebon stillness, a voice said: "Welcome, Earthman!"
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
a special situation
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading But he had taken a long knife from the dead _Pervod_ in the third guard-car.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading And then, suddenly, out of the ebon stillness, a voice said: "Welcome, Earthman!"
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
accept gladly
From this reading And then, suddenly, out of the ebon stillness, a voice said: "Welcome, Earthman!"
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The doors were protected by rigid barriers of projected force, and the light-pistol burned out before Shane had quite finished cutting through the wall.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading So, finally, they were inside, crawling through an ever-murkier blackness while the silence hammered at them like a living thing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He finished the job with it.
