used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading It seemed to be an excavation which had been abandoned.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It seemed to be an excavation which had been abandoned.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed to be an excavation which had been abandoned.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It seemed to be an excavation which had been abandoned.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was completely dark.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But it was completely dark.
conjecturenounUS /kənˈdʒektʃər/
a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
From this reading How long he would be kept here he could not conjecture.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How long he would be kept here he could not conjecture.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading But it was completely dark.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
excavationnounUS /ˌekskəˈveɪʃən/
the act of digging
From this reading It seemed to be an excavation which had been abandoned.
opinion or judgment
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
the act of departing
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed to be an excavation which had been abandoned.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading How long he would be kept here he could not conjecture.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How long he would be kept here he could not conjecture.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading How long he would be kept here he could not conjecture.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading How long he would be kept here he could not conjecture.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading How long he would be kept here he could not conjecture.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
unpractisedadjective
not having had extensive practice
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was completely dark.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was at some distance from that part of the mine in which active operations were going on.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It seemed to be an excavation which had been abandoned.
in the company of; together with
From this reading IT seemed to Gerald like a terrible dream, as he tried with his unpractised eyes to peer through the blackness.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading How long he would be kept here he could not conjecture.
