used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Nobody had heard the report of a pistol.
altercationnounUS /ˌɑːltərˈkeɪʃən/
noisy quarrel
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt.
audibleadjectiveUS /ˈɑːdəbəl/
heard or perceptible by the ear
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Death had come upon him like a bolt from the blue.
boltnounUS /boʊlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading Death had come upon him like a bolt from the blue.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Death had come upon him like a bolt from the blue.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Death had come upon him like a bolt from the blue.
psychological suffering
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
disturbancenounUS /dɪˈstɜːrbəns/
activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
divisible by two
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
felledverbUS /feld/
past form of “fell” — cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Death had come upon him like a bolt from the blue.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind.
groannounUS /ɡroʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nobody had heard the report of a pistol.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Nobody had heard the report of a pistol.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Death had come upon him like a bolt from the blue.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt.
not in physical motion
From this reading The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt.
not any; not one
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody had heard the report of a pistol.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nobody had heard the report of a pistol.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind.
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading Nobody had heard the report of a pistol.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading Nobody had heard the report of a pistol.
snuffedverbUS /snʌft/
past form of “snuff” — sniff or smell inquiringly
From this reading His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Nobody had heard the report of a pistol.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been no disturbance; in fact, no audible altercation, no startling cry for help, or even a groan of sudden, terrible distress.
thunderboltnounUS /ˈθʌndərbɔːlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading The man lay there as motionless, nevertheless, as if felled by a thunderbolt.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Death had come upon him like a bolt from the blue.
whirlwindnounUS /ˈwɜːrlwɪnd/
a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth
From this reading His life had been snuffed out like the flame of a candle by the fury of a whirlwind.
