used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
BeckettnounUS /ˈbekɪt/
a playwright and novelist (born in Ireland) who lived in France; wrote plays for the theater of the absurd (1906-1989)
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
bombnounUS /bɑːm/
an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
Brian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brian had not even got up from his chair by the table.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Brian had not even got up from his chair by the table.
chrysanthemumsnounUS /krɪˈsænθəməmz/
plural of “chrysanthemum” — the flower of a chrysanthemum plant
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
crashings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
divisible by two
From this reading Brian had not even got up from his chair by the table.
explosionsnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒənz/
plural of “explosion” — a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Brian had not even got up from his chair by the table.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Brian had not even got up from his chair by the table.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
not accessible to view
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
jinglings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not one of us uttered a sound.
oasisnounUS /oʊˈeɪsɪs/
a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Not one of us uttered a sound.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
shadedadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdɪd/
protected from heat and light with shade or shadow
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Not one of us uttered a sound.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Brian had not even got up from his chair by the table.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
tightadjectiveUS /taɪt/
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Brian had not even got up from his chair by the table.
uproarnounUS /ˈʌprɔːr/
a state of commotion and noise and confusion
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Not one of us uttered a sound.
communicated in words
From this reading Not one of us uttered a sound.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For a moment we thought the house had been struck by a bomb, and were astonished that it stood.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Father Beckett took his wife in his arms, and held her tight, her face hidden in his coat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the uproar of explosions and crashings and jinglings, the small silence of our room--with its gay chrysanthemums and shaded candles--was like that of a sheltered oasis in a desert storm.
