used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
anew
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
(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 Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
apoplexynounUS /ˈæpəpleksi/
a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
apparitionnounUS /ˌæpərˈɪʃən/
a ghostly appearing figure
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
broadenedverbUS /ˈbrɔːdənd/
past form of “broaden” — make broader
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
comfortingadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtɪŋ/
providing freedom from worry
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
faintestadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪntəst/
superlative of “faint” — deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
fascinationnounUS /ˌfæsəˈneɪʃən/
the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
the act of departing
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
horizontaladjectiveUS /ˌhɔːrəˈzɑːntəl/
parallel to or in the plane of the horizon or a base line
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
irrationaladjectiveUS /ˌɪˈræʃənəl/
not consistent with or using reason
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
knobsnounUS /nɑːbz/
plural of “knob” — a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
lingerverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡər/
remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
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 The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
roused to anger
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
not in physical motion
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
in motion
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
not any; not one
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/
come to pass
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
on one occasion
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
recommenced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
not in physical motion
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
a lightweight cord
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
a special situation
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Perhaps I had gazed at this thing in fascination for twenty or thirty seconds before it stirred at all.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I was of no mind to linger there until the thing should leap up again and drive me into an apoplexy.
ValenounUS /veɪl/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then the faintest swinging motion seemed to occur, on a horizontal plane, and suddenly—now my heart was going mad—it rose a couple of feet as if jerked by a string, and remained motionless once more, until the swinging recommenced, one end and then the other moving slightly toward me and away.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The comforting tones of voices had died; it might have been that I and that apparition were alone in the Vale, a man and a white irrational bone.
a Caucasian
From this reading The Laugh A white bone, six inches long, the broadened knobs at each end a little darker than the rest—horizontal, perfectly still.
