adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
asleepadjectiveUS /əˈsliːp/
in a state of sleep
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
catastrophesnounUS /kəˈtæstrəfiz/
plural of “catastrophe” — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
compoundedadjectiveUS /kəmˈpaʊndəd/
combined into or constituting a chemical compound
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
confusedlyadverb
in a confused manner
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
conjuredverbUS /ˈkɑːndʒərd/
past form of “conjure” — summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
consciousnessnounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəsnəs/
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
degreenounUS /dɪˈɡriː/
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
dreamnounUS /driːm/
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
durationnounUS /ˈdʊˈreɪʃən/
the period of time during which something continues
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
EternitynounUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəti/
time without end
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/
something many people believe that is false
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
horizonnounUS /hərˈaɪzən/
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was no more.
imaginationnounUS /ˌɪmædʒəˈneɪʃən/
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
lastedverbUS /ˈlæstəd/
past form of “last” — persist for a specified period of time
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/
for more time
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
morbidadjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrbəd/
suggesting an unhealthy mental state
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I was no more.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
NAILverbUS /neɪl/
attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
nihilitynoun
the state of nonexistence
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I was no more.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
propensitynounUS /prəˈpensɪti/
an inclination to do something
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
regainedverbUS /riˈɡeɪnd/
past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
shapenounUS /ʃeɪp/
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
spentadjectiveUS /spent/
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
swoonverbUS /swuːn/
pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Eternity is not of longer duration than one second spent in nihility.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was slowly and confusedly that I regained some degree of consciousness.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE NAIL It is impossible for me to say how long my swoon lasted.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was no more.
wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I was still asleep, but I began to dream; a nightmare started into shape amid the blackness of my horizon, a nightmare compounded of a strange fancy which in other days had haunted my morbid imagination whenever with my propensity for dwelling upon hideous thoughts I had conjured up catastrophes.
