used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They played a ghastly game on that lonely asteroid.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Killer and victim-to-be danced and feinted between space-beacon and ship.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
asteroidnounUS /ˈæstərɔɪd/
any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)
From this reading They played a ghastly game on that lonely asteroid.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Killer and victim-to-be danced and feinted between space-beacon and ship.
exhale hard
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading Killer and victim-to-be danced and feinted between space-beacon and ship.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
feinted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Killer and victim-to-be danced and feinted between space-beacon and ship.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading They played a ghastly game on that lonely asteroid.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading They played a ghastly game on that lonely asteroid.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
hold firmly
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
helmetnounUS /ˈhelmət/
armor plate that protects the head
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
HermesnounUS /ˈhɜːrmiz/
(Greek mythology) messenger and herald of the gods; god of commerce and cunning and invention and theft; identified with Roman Mercury
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
Hervey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
KillernounUS /ˈkɪlər/
someone who causes the death of a person or animal
From this reading Killer and victim-to-be danced and feinted between space-beacon and ship.
killingnounUS /ˈkɪlɪŋ/
an event that causes someone to die
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Only the stars knew the winner.
without good reason
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading They played a ghastly game on that lonely asteroid.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They played a ghastly game on that lonely asteroid.
and nothing more
From this reading Only the stars knew the winner.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading They played a ghastly game on that lonely asteroid.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
To recall to mind.
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
transport commercially
From this reading Killer and victim-to-be danced and feinted between space-beacon and ship.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
space-beacon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Killer and victim-to-be danced and feinted between space-beacon and ship.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Only the stars knew the winner.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They played a ghastly game on that lonely asteroid.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Only the stars knew the winner.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They played a ghastly game on that lonely asteroid.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
victim-to-be
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Killer and victim-to-be danced and feinted between space-beacon and ship.
at the time that
From this reading He did not remember exactly when the idea of killing Hervey occurred to him.
winnernounUS /ˈwɪnər/
the contestant who wins the contest
From this reading Only the stars knew the winner.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
wrenchverbUS /rentʃ/
twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates
From this reading Probably, though, it had been that day at Hermes Station, when the wrench had slipped from his grasp as he worked on the tower; it had drifted lightly down and struck Hervey a glancing blow on the helmet.
