used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/
having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
Athlyne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Even the shutting of the Sheriff’s door in the room below was distinct.
terminate
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
without doubt or question
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading The first to speak was Colonel Ogilvie.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
disastrousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzæstrəs/
(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading Even the shutting of the Sheriff’s door in the room below was distinct.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Even the shutting of the Sheriff’s door in the room below was distinct.
easily-irate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the shutting of the Sheriff’s door in the room below was distinct.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first to speak was Colonel Ogilvie.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
a man of refinement
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
indicationsnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “indication” — something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
offencenoun
the action of attacking an enemy
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
Ogilvie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first to speak was Colonel Ogilvie.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
prudencenounUS /ˈpruːdəns/
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
refrainedverbUS /rɪˈfreɪnd/
past form of “refrain” — resist doing something
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
renewverbUS /rɪˈnuː/
reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
Sheriff'snounUS /ˈʃerəfs/
possessive form of “sheriff” — the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
From this reading Even the shutting of the Sheriff’s door in the room below was distinct.
shuttingnounUS /ˈʃʌtɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading Even the shutting of the Sheriff’s door in the room below was distinct.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
express in speech
From this reading The first to speak was Colonel Ogilvie.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
strifenounUS /straɪf/
lack of agreement or harmony
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
carry out
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He knew that this might be disastrous, for it would renew the old strife in an acute form; as it was, there were distinct indications of coming peace.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first to speak was Colonel Ogilvie.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For a few minutes there was silence in the room; silence so profound that every sound of the street was clearly heard.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
which person or people
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Athlyne, who would have liked to break the silence refrained through prudence; he feared that were he to speak before Colonel Ogilvie did, that easily-irate gentleman might take offence.
