used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
bafflednounUS /ˈbæfəld/
people who are frustrated and perplexed
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
blindedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪd/
deprived of sight
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Then darkness settled down and the moaning undertone swelled to a roar.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then darkness settled down and the moaning undertone swelled to a roar.
remove the dust from
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
hissverbUS /hɪs/
make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
impalpableadjective
incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
inarticulateadjectiveUS /ˌɪnɑːrˈtɪkjələt/
without or deprived of the use of speech or words
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
intensitynounUS /ɪnˈtensəti/
the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
moaningverbUS /ˈmoʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
penetratingadjectiveUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
rainedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “rain” — precipitate as rain
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading Then darkness settled down and the moaning undertone swelled to a roar.
sand-spouts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
scorchedadjectiveUS /skɔːrtʃt/
Burned by flames or heat; blackened by intense magical or physical fire.
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading Then darkness settled down and the moaning undertone swelled to a roar.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
sibillant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
that is looked for
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
swelledadjectiveUS /sweld/
feeling self-importance
From this reading Then darkness settled down and the moaning undertone swelled to a roar.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then darkness settled down and the moaning undertone swelled to a roar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
undertonenounUS /ˈʌndərtoʊn/
a quiet or hushed tone of voice
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
utterancenounUS /ˈʌtərəns/
the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
vainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
precisely as stated
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It filled the air we strove to breathe; it blinded and baffled us as we vainly sought for shelter.
in or at the place that
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Now the sand-spouts which had been flung upwards, rained on us in fine, almost impalpable dust, that scorched where it fell.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His voice was a penetrating, sibillant hiss, with a moaning undertone--the utterance of fury rendered inarticulate by its own intensity.
but in spite of that
From this reading His breath had not yet reached us, but it was very near.
