used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But no one moved for a moment.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
at or in the front
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
disdainverbUS /dɪsˈdeɪn/
look down on with disdain
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
fascinationnounUS /ˌfæsəˈneɪʃən/
the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But no one moved for a moment.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He seemed so unreal there.
humdrumadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmdrʌm/
not challenging; dull and lacking excitement
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
a particular point in time
From this reading But no one moved for a moment.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading But no one moved for a moment.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
not any; not one
From this reading But no one moved for a moment.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
on one occasion
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But no one moved for a moment.
operatornounUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtər/
(mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
ploughingnoun
tilling the land with a plow
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
ragedverbUS /reɪdʒd/
past form of “rage” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed so unreal there.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He seemed so unreal there.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
not in physical motion
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
stilledverbUS /stɪld/
past form of “still” — make calm or still
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He seemed so unreal there.
throbbingnounUS /ˈθrɑːbɪŋ/
an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
unrealadjectiveUS /ənˈriːl/
lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria
From this reading He seemed so unreal there.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading We were all staring in grim fascination at the absurd figure of the humdrum little operator upon the floor.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The storm still raged, but now our craft cut the waters with disdain.
YACHTnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading THE MURDER ON THE YACHT Before any of us could move, before we could realize what had happened, the stilled engines of the yacht were throbbing once more, and we were ploughing ahead.
