used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then he felt a touch upon the shoulder.
agitationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
From this reading “No, no!” he cried, in the extremity of his agitation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Come!” said Haldane, looking darkly down upon him.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “No, no!” he cried, in the extremity of his agitation.
darklyadverbUS /ˈdɑːrkli/
without light
From this reading “Come!” said Haldane, looking darkly down upon him.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Come!” said Haldane, looking darkly down upon him.
extremitynounUS /ekˈstreməti/
an external body part that projects from the body
From this reading “No, no!” he cried, in the extremity of his agitation.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Then he felt a touch upon the shoulder.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
Haldanenoun
Scottish geneticist (son of John Haldane) who contributed to the development of population genetics; a popularizer of science and a Marxist (1892-1964)
From this reading “Come!” said Haldane, looking darkly down upon him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Come!” said Haldane, looking darkly down upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “No, no!” he cried, in the extremity of his agitation.
incoherentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪrənt/
without logical or meaningful connection
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked up, shuddering.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “Come!” said Haldane, looking darkly down upon him.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
murmuringnounUS /ˈmɜːrmərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
not any; not one
From this reading “No, no!” he cried, in the extremity of his agitation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “No, no!” he cried, in the extremity of his agitation.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Come!” said Haldane, looking darkly down upon him.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Then he felt a touch upon the shoulder.
shudderingadjectiveUS /ˈʃʌdərɪŋ/
shaking convulsively or violently
From this reading He looked up, shuddering.
sobsnounUS /sɑːbz/
plural of “sob” — a dyspneic condition
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading |For some minutes he remained kneeling, his strong frame shaken by deep sobs, his lips murmuring some incoherent prayer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then he felt a touch upon the shoulder.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he felt a touch upon the shoulder.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading Then he felt a touch upon the shoulder.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He looked up, shuddering.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then he felt a touch upon the shoulder.
