used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
acquiresverbUS /əˈkwaɪərz/
third-person singular of “acquire” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading No silence is sinister until it acquires a background of understandable menace.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
ambitiouslyadverbUS /æmˈbɪʃəsli/
with ambition; in an ambitious and energetic manner
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
from appearances alone
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading No silence is sinister until it acquires a background of understandable menace.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
brushingnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪŋ/
the act of brushing your teeth
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
defensenounUS /dɪˈfens/
(military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
doorwaysnounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪz/
plural of “doorway” — the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
entitiesnounUS /ˈentɪtiz/
plural of “entity” — that which is perceived or known or inferred to have its own distinct existence (living or nonliving)
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
fathersnounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
plural of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
glass-walled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
impregnableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpreɡnəbəl/
immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No silence is sinister until it acquires a background of understandable menace.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
MaternitynounUS /məˈtɜːrnɪti/
the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
menaceverbUS /ˈmenəs/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading No silence is sinister until it acquires a background of understandable menace.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
not any; not one
From this reading No silence is sinister until it acquires a background of understandable menace.
noiselessadjective
making no sound
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
and nothing more
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
rubbernounUS /ˈrʌbər/
an elastic material obtained from the latex sap of trees (especially trees of the genera Hevea and Ficus) that can be vulcanized and finished into a variety of products
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
semi-darkened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
starchedverbUS /stɑːrtʃt/
past form of “starch” — stiffen with starch
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
very small
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
tomorrownounUS /təˈmɑːroʊ/
the day after today
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
understandableadjectiveUS /ˌʌndərˈstændəbəl/
capable of being apprehended or understood
From this reading No silence is sinister until it acquires a background of understandable menace.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading No silence is sinister until it acquires a background of understandable menace.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
visitingnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪŋ/
the activity of making visits
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _The entities were utterly, ambitiously evil; their line of defense, apparently, was absolutely impregnable._ It was not a sinister silence.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
a Caucasian
From this reading Here there was only the night quiet of Maternity, the silence of noiseless rubber heels on the hospital corridor floor, the faint brush of starched white skirts brushing through doorways into darkened and semi-darkened rooms.
which person or people
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The curtain was drawn across the window through which, during visiting hours, peered the proud fathers who did the hoping.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading But there was something wrong with the silence in the "basket room" of Maternity, the glass-walled room containing row on row, the tiny hopes of tomorrow.
