used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This probably was caused by the impact of a meteorite.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading This probably was caused by the impact of a meteorite.
claynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
dislodgedverbUS /dɪˈslɑːdʒd/
past form of “dislodge” — remove or force out from a position
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Once in a while, they felt a trembling jar.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
impactnounUS /ˌɪmˈpækt/
the striking of one body against another
From this reading This probably was caused by the impact of a meteorite.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
insulationnounUS /ˌɪnsəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being isolated or detached
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
jarverbUS /dʒɑːr/
be incompatible; be or come into conflict
From this reading Once in a while, they felt a trembling jar.
laddersnounUS /ˈlædərz/
plural of “ladder” — steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
meteoritenounUS /ˈmiːtiɔːraɪt/
stony or metallic object that is the remains of a meteoroid that has reached the earth's surface
From this reading This probably was caused by the impact of a meteorite.
used to form the superlative
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
not any; not one
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
on one occasion
From this reading Once in a while, they felt a trembling jar.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
piercedadjectiveUS /pɪrst/
having a hole cut through
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading This probably was caused by the impact of a meteorite.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
producingverbUS /prəˈduːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
resistantadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɪstənt/
relating to or conferring immunity (to disease or infection)
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
scaffoldingnounUS /ˈskæfəldɪŋ/
a system of scaffolds
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
shiftverbUS /ʃɪft/
make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
temporarilyadverbUS /ˌtempərˈerəli/
for a limited time only; not permanently
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once in a while, they felt a trembling jar.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This probably was caused by the impact of a meteorite.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading But thus far, no such bodies had pierced the heavy insulation of resistant clay.
a shaky motion
From this reading Once in a while, they felt a trembling jar.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This probably was caused by the impact of a meteorite.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Once in a while, they felt a trembling jar.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading For the most part, the vessel had proceeded without producing any sense of motion.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
but in spite of that
From this reading A violent shift would have dislodged everything loose in the shell--the scaffolding, ladders, the temporarily secured electric lights--and yet there had been nothing of the sort.
