used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading For a moment I simply held my breath and waited.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
continuouslyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəsli/
at every point
From this reading Then the knocking was repeated--continuously, and with growing insistence.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
elapseverbUS /ɪˈlæps/
pass by
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
environmentnounUS /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/
the totality of surrounding conditions
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
Eternities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
fishyadjectiveUS /ˈfɪʃi/
of or relating to or resembling fish
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
flickerverbUS /ˈflɪkər/
move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment I simply held my breath and waited.
groannounUS /ɡroʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Then the knocking was repeated--continuously, and with growing insistence.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading For a moment I simply held my breath and waited.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For a moment I simply held my breath and waited.
insistencenounUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstəns/
continual and persistent demands
From this reading Then the knocking was repeated--continuously, and with growing insistence.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading Then the knocking was repeated--continuously, and with growing insistence.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
loadnounUS /loʊd/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment I simply held my breath and waited.
attach to a support
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
MuffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
nauseousadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːʃəs/
causing or able to cause nausea
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
odornounUS /ˈoʊdər/
any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
originnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
ponderousadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərəs/
slow and laborious because of weight
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
recurring again and again
From this reading Then the knocking was repeated--continuously, and with growing insistence.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
and nothing more
From this reading For a moment I simply held my breath and waited.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
spectacularlyadverbUS /spekˈtækjələrli/
in a spectacular manner
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Eternities seemed to elapse, and the nauseous fishy odor of my environment seemed to mount suddenly and spectacularly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the knocking was repeated--continuously, and with growing insistence.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
transomnounUS /ˈtrænsəm/
a window above a door that is usually hinged to a horizontal crosspiece over the door
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
vocaladjectiveUS /ˈvoʊkəl/
relating to or designed for or using the singing voice
From this reading Muffled sounds of possible vocal origin approached, and at length a firm knock came at my outer door.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading For a moment I simply held my breath and waited.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then the knocking was repeated--continuously, and with growing insistence.
waveringnounUS /ˈweɪvərɪŋ/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A wavering flicker of light showed through my transom, and the boards of the corridor began to groan with a ponderous load.
