used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A shadow, shifting with the wavering of the torch, fell across Marlowe’s face.
in addition
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And Bame, Richard Bame, carries him.”
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
ascertainverbUS /ˌæsərˈteɪn/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
Bame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And Bame, Richard Bame, carries him.”
cause to be bored
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
carriesnounUS /ˈkæriz/
plural of “carry” — the act of carrying something
From this reading “And Bame, Richard Bame, carries him.”
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The torch now revealed an object close to the edge of the pavement.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
corpsenounUS /kɔːrps/
the dead body of a human being
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
the boundary of a surface
From this reading The torch now revealed an object close to the edge of the pavement.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A shadow, shifting with the wavering of the torch, fell across Marlowe’s face.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading A shadow, shifting with the wavering of the torch, fell across Marlowe’s face.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
immediately past
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
MarlowenounUS /ˈmɑːrloʊ/
English poet and playwright who introduced blank verse as a form of dramatic expression; was stabbed to death in a tavern brawl (1564-1593)
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
Marlowe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A shadow, shifting with the wavering of the torch, fell across Marlowe’s face.
a particular point in time
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The torch now revealed an object close to the edge of the pavement.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading The torch now revealed an object close to the edge of the pavement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A shadow, shifting with the wavering of the torch, fell across Marlowe’s face.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading The torch now revealed an object close to the edge of the pavement.
porticonounUS /ˈpɔːrtəkoʊ/
a porch or entrance to a building consisting of a covered and often columned area
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading The torch now revealed an object close to the edge of the pavement.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And Bame, Richard Bame, carries him.”
cut with a saw
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading A shadow, shifting with the wavering of the torch, fell across Marlowe’s face.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading A shadow, shifting with the wavering of the torch, fell across Marlowe’s face.
slinkverb
walk stealthily
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
stretchernounUS /ˈstretʃər/
a wooden framework on which canvas is stretched and fixed for oil painting
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
waveringnounUS /ˈweɪvərɪŋ/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading A shadow, shifting with the wavering of the torch, fell across Marlowe’s face.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
which person or people
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then, as the flaming torch illuminated the man in front, who, with back toward the corpse, bore the stretcher, Marlowe, for he was the speaker, sunk his fingers deep into the clutched arm, for at that moment he heard a voice near him whisper:
the words that are spoken
From this reading The latter looked to ascertain its cause and also the source of the last words spoken, and saw the outline of a man in the coat of an officer slink from the portico into the rain and the darkness.
