used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
abyssnounUS /əˈbɪs/
a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
blackmailingverbUS /ˈblækmeɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “blackmail” — exert pressure on someone through threats
From this reading One, a blackmailing case, made intricate by medical complications.
briefsnounUS /briːfs/
(used in the plural) short tight-fitting underpants (trade name Jockey shorts)
From this reading Good fortune had given him more than his usual share of briefs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One, a blackmailing case, made intricate by medical complications.
an occurrence of something
From this reading One, a blackmailing case, made intricate by medical complications.
CentraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
chainedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪnd/
bound with chains
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
complicationsnounUS /ˌkɑːmpləˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “complication” — the act or process of complicating
From this reading One, a blackmailing case, made intricate by medical complications.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
CriminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
dizzyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪzi/
having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Good fortune had given him more than his usual share of briefs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Good fortune had given him more than his usual share of briefs.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Good fortune had given him more than his usual share of briefs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Good fortune had given him more than his usual share of briefs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
hoverings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
intricateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəkət/
having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
From this reading One, a blackmailing case, made intricate by medical complications.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading One, a blackmailing case, made intricate by medical complications.
medicaladjectiveUS /ˈmedəkəl/
relating to the study or practice of medicine
From this reading One, a blackmailing case, made intricate by medical complications.
a particular point in time
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Good fortune had given him more than his usual share of briefs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One, a blackmailing case, made intricate by medical complications.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
have in common
From this reading Good fortune had given him more than his usual share of briefs.
sittings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Good fortune had given him more than his usual share of briefs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Good fortune had given him more than his usual share of briefs.
volcanonounUS /vɑːlˈkeɪnoʊ/
a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading From that moment Hugh walked on the edge of a volcano.
week'snounUS /wiːks/
possessive form of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading To keep his thoughts from dizzy hoverings over the abyss, he chained them down, with desperate will, to the work he had on hand.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In a week’s time would begin the February sittings of the Central Criminal Court.
