used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
(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 The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
cavernsnounUS /ˈkævərnz/
plural of “cavern” — any large dark enclosed space
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
Cañon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
circuitnounUS /ˈsɜːrkət/
an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
ColoradonounUS /ˌkɑːlərˈɑːdoʊ/
a state in west central United States in the Rocky Mountains
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
completedadjectiveUS /kəmˈpliːtəd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
demonnounUS /ˈdiːmən/
an evil supernatural being
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
enchantmentnounUS /enˈtʃæntmənt/
a feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
for a limitless time
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
ten 10s
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
impelledadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpeld/
urged or forced to action through moral pressure
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
marvelsnounUS /ˈmɑːrvəlz/
plural of “marvel” — something that causes feelings of wonder
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
measurelessadjective
without limits in extent or size or quantity
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
not any; not one
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
perilsnounUS /ˈperəlz/
plural of “peril” — a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
portalnounUS /ˈpɔːrtəl/
a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
pushverbUS /pʊʃ/
move with force
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
on the contrary
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
supernaturalnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈnætʃərəl/
supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
possessing sweep
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
Thurstane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Thurstane had strange emotions as he swept into the "caverns measureless to man" of the Great Cañon of the Colorado.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
unitynounUS /ˈjuːnəti/
an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
not known
From this reading An angel or a demon impelled him into the unknown; a supernatural portal had opened to give him passage; then it had closed behind him forever.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
volitionnounUS /voʊˈlɪʃən/
the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
From this reading It seemed like a push of destiny rather than a step of volition.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cañon, with all its two hundred and forty miles of marvels and perils, presented itself to his imagination as a unity.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The first step within it placed him under an enchantment from which there was no escape until the whole circuit of the spell should be completed.
