approximatelyadverbUS /əˈprɑːksəmətli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading There were chirpings which were the cries of what might be approximately described as wild pigs--except that they weren't.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Calhoun was not pleased with himself.
Calhoun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Calhoun was not pleased with himself.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
chirpings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were chirpings which were the cries of what might be approximately described as wild pigs--except that they weren't.
crawlingnounUS /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading There were chirpings which were the cries of what might be approximately described as wild pigs--except that they weren't.
deep-bass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
apart from; not including
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
flutingnoun
a groove or furrow in cloth etc (particularly a shallow concave groove on the shaft of a column)
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But Calhoun was not pleased with himself.
hummings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
land-turtles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
miniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Calhoun was not pleased with himself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
pigsnounUS /pɪɡz/
plural of “pig” — domestic swine
From this reading There were chirpings which were the cries of what might be approximately described as wild pigs--except that they weren't.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading But Calhoun was not pleased with himself.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were chirpings which were the cries of what might be approximately described as wild pigs--except that they weren't.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
in or at that place or location
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were chirpings which were the cries of what might be approximately described as wild pigs--except that they weren't.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
throatsnounUS /θroʊts/
plural of “throat” — the passage to the stomach and lungs; in the front part of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone
From this reading There were deep-bass hummings, which came from the throats of miniature creatures which might roughly be described as birds.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But Calhoun was not pleased with himself.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were chirpings which were the cries of what might be approximately described as wild pigs--except that they weren't.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There were chirpings which were the cries of what might be approximately described as wild pigs--except that they weren't.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading * * * * * There was silence except for the normal noises of living wild things.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Calhoun was not pleased with himself.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There were fluting sounds, which later Calhoun would be told, from crawling creatures not too much unlike the land-turtles of Earth.
