used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
abhorrently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
bed-clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He woke to find a knot of bed-clothes smothering him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
chantingnounUS /ˈtʃæntɪŋ/
the act of singing in a monotonous tone
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He woke to find a knot of bed-clothes smothering him.
start firing a weapon
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
GobinounUS /ˈɡoʊbi/
a desert in central China
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
gravitynounUS /ˈɡrævəti/
(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He woke to find a knot of bed-clothes smothering him.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
insufferableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsʌfərəbəl/
unbearably arrogant or conceited
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
intoningverbUS /ˌɪnˈtoʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “intone” — utter monotonously and repetitively and rhythmically
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading He woke to find a knot of bed-clothes smothering him.
layernounUS /ˈleɪər/
single thickness of usually some homogeneous substance
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
louderadjectiveUS /ˈlaʊdər/
comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
mockedverbUS /mɑːkt/
past form of “mock” — treat with contempt
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
paralysisnounUS /pərˈæləsəs/
loss of the ability to move a body part
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
pestilencenounUS /ˈpestələns/
a serious (sometimes fatal) infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis and accidentally transmitted to humans by the bite of a flea that has bitten an infected animal
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
phantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
Rudolph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
SaharanounUS /səˈherə/
the world's largest desert (3,500,000 square miles) in northern Africa
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
smotheringadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərɪŋ/
causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
From this reading He woke to find a knot of bed-clothes smothering him.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
stiflingnounUS /ˈstaɪflɪŋ/
forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
unmistakablyadverbUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbli/
without possibility of mistake
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
unspeakableadjectiveUS /ənˈspiːkəbəl/
defying expression or description
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
upwardadjectiveUS /ˈʌpwərd/
directed up
From this reading Rudolph, desperately choked, continued leaping upward against an insufferable power of gravity, or straining to run against the force of paralysis.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading UNDER FIRE The desert was sometimes Gobi, sometimes Sahara, but always an infinite stretch of sand that floated up and up in a stifling layer, like the tide.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The desert rang with phantom voices,--Chinese voices that mocked him, chanting of pestilence, intoning abhorrently in French.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading He woke to find a knot of bed-clothes smothering him.
the words that are spoken
From this reading To his first unspeakable relief succeeded the astonishment of hearing the voices continue in shrill chorus, the tones Chinese, the words, in louder fragments, unmistakably French.
