used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She, too, heard, above the throbbing of the engines, a second sound.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading She, too, heard, above the throbbing of the engines, a second sound.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first the Countess had lain in the boat half-conscious.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading At first the Countess had lain in the boat half-conscious.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
female equivalent of a count or earl
From this reading At first the Countess had lain in the boat half-conscious.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
droningnounUS /ˈdroʊnɪŋ/
an unchanging intonation
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
move gently or carefully
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
with resolute determination
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first the Countess had lain in the boat half-conscious.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
hold firmly
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At first the Countess had lain in the boat half-conscious.
half-conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first the Countess had lain in the boat half-conscious.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She, too, heard, above the throbbing of the engines, a second sound.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
the act of retaining something
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At first the Countess had lain in the boat half-conscious.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading At first the Countess had lain in the boat half-conscious.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
Mabuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
the force of workers available
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading She, too, heard, above the throbbing of the engines, a second sound.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She, too, heard, above the throbbing of the engines, a second sound.
having a supporting base
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At first the Countess had lain in the boat half-conscious.
throbbingnounUS /ˈθrɑːbɪŋ/
an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)
From this reading She, too, heard, above the throbbing of the engines, a second sound.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She, too, heard, above the throbbing of the engines, a second sound.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The shots, the droning of the engines, the haste and excitement of the men beside her, had gradually awakened her, and she began to grasp what was happening.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading She sat up, holding her head over the side whence it came, and listened intently.
which person or people
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “What is that?” she asked Mabuse, who was standing near, planted firmly on the deck with his back to the engine and appearing entirely at ease.
