used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
apparitionnounUS /ˌæpərˈɪʃən/
a ghostly appearing figure
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "There _are_ people--and they're coming for us!"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
aroused or activated
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
next to; at the side of
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
the two together, not just one
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading "There _are_ people--and they're coming for us!"
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Saved--oh, we're saved!" cried she.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
flownounUS /floʊ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
a young female
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
inexplicableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəkˈsplɪsəbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
loomingverbUS /ˈluːmɪŋ/
-ing form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
something that is lost
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Saved--oh, we're saved!" cried she.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
on one occasion
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "There _are_ people--and they're coming for us!"
PORTENTSnounUS /ˈpɔːrtents/
plural of “portent” — a sign of something about to happen
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading "Saved--oh, we're saved!" cried she.
secondsnounUS /ˈsekəndz/
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
speechlessadjectiveUS /ˈspiːtʃləs/
temporarily incapable of speaking
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
SternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
in or at that place or location
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
they're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There _are_ people--and they're coming for us!"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She covered her face with both hands, and through her fingers the tears of joy began to flow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
turmoilnounUS /ˈtɜːrmɔɪl/
a violent disturbance
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "There _are_ people--and they're coming for us!"
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
we're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Saved--oh, we're saved!" cried she.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
wordlessadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrdləs/
expressed without speech
From this reading But all at once the girl, with a wordless cry, sank on her knees beside the vast looming bulk of the tower.
the words that are spoken
From this reading PORTENTS OF WAR Stern and Beatrice stood there a few seconds at the foot of the ladder, speechless, utterly at a loss for any words to voice the turmoil of confused thoughts awakened by this inexplicable apparition.
