used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
accusationnounUS /ˌækjəˈzeɪʃən/
a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; the act of imputing blame or guilt
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
astonishingadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The two boys stared at each other in dismay.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The two boys stared at each other in dismay.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading WHEN THE CHALLENGE CAME.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
CHALLENGEverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/
take exception to
From this reading WHEN THE CHALLENGE CAME.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
declarationnounUS /ˌdeklərˈeɪʃən/
a statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written)
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
declare untrue; contradict
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading The two boys stared at each other in dismay.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The two boys stared at each other in dismay.
Elmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The two boys stared at each other in dismay.
indignantlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdɪɡnəntliː/
in an indignant manner
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
a room where books are kept
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
not any; not one
From this reading Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
on one occasion
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The two boys stared at each other in dismay.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
express in words
From this reading Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The two boys stared at each other in dismay.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonishing declaration.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN THE CHALLENGE CAME.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation.
two times
From this reading Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two boys stared at each other in dismay.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN THE CHALLENGE CAME.
