used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There had been a grim finality about everything that had occurred.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There had been a grim finality about everything that had occurred.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been a grim finality about everything that had occurred.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
breaking-point
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
corridorsnounUS /ˈkɔːrɪdərz/
plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading There had been a grim finality about everything that had occurred.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
finalitynounUS /faɪˈnæləti/
the quality of being final or definitely settled
From this reading There had been a grim finality about everything that had occurred.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading There had been a grim finality about everything that had occurred.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
of the present time and place
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
Kastle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
Krags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading There had been a grim finality about everything that had occurred.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
on one occasion
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
shamblingnoun
walking with a slow dragging motion without lifting your feet
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
make steady
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
superstitionsnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃənz/
plural of “superstition” — an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
carry out
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
express in words
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading After all, immediate action had never helped matters in this affair of Kastle Krags.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading His own dark superstitions had hold of him, and his shambling search through the darkened corridors had stretched his nerves to the absolute breaking-point.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was evident at once that there was nothing to do but let him take his time and get the story out the best he could.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
Wilkson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It wasn't easy to steady Wilkson so that he could tell an intelligent story.
