used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
beadsnounUS /biːdz/
several beads threaded together on a string
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
terminate
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
comprehendingverbUS /ˌkɑːmprɪˈhendɪŋ/
-ing form of “comprehend” — get the meaning of something
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
confidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/
having or marked by confidence or assurance
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
cowardnounUS /ˈkaʊərd/
a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
dennounUS /den/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
intense and profound fear
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
judgingnounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒɪŋ/
the cognitive process of reaching a decision or drawing conclusions
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
go away from a place
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
perspirationnounUS /ˌpɜːrspərˈeɪʃən/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
quakingverbUS /ˈkweɪkɪŋ/
-ing form of “quake” — shake with fast, tremulous movements
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
only a very short time before
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
suctionnounUS /ˈsʌkʃən/
a force over an area produced by a pressure difference
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
in a swift manner
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
terrorsnounUS /ˈterərz/
plural of “terror” — an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
trip-hammer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
undergroundadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/
under the level of the ground
From this reading There must be another opening into this underground den--one leading to the outer air--judging from that sudden and powerful suction.
not known
From this reading The change had occurred so swiftly as to leave me quaking like a coward at the unknown terrors of the dark.
venturingverbUS /ˈventʃərɪŋ/
-ing form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading A CHAMBER OF HORROR I backed against the wall, crouching low, revolver in hand, scarcely venturing to breathe, listening intently for the slightest sound to break the intense silence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My heart beat like a trip-hammer, and there were beads of cold perspiration on my face.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet almost within the instant I gripped my nerves, comprehending all that had occurred, and confident of my own safety.
