used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Here she sank upon the sand, her frame quivering like an aspen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
aspennounUS /ˈæspən/
any of several trees of the genus Populus having leaves on flattened stalks so that they flutter in the lightest wind
From this reading Here she sank upon the sand, her frame quivering like an aspen.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
make calm or still
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
DiviningverbUS /dəˈvaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “divine” — perceive intuitively or through some inexplicable perceptive powers
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
eyeballsnounUS /ˈaɪbɔːlz/
plural of “eyeball” — the ball-shaped capsule containing the vertebrate eye
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading Here she sank upon the sand, her frame quivering like an aspen.
gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/
-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here she sank upon the sand, her frame quivering like an aspen.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
LANDLESSadjectiveUS /ˈlændləs/
owning no land
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
Landless's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
immediately past
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Here she sank upon the sand, her frame quivering like an aspen.
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 With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
a particular point in time
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
PATRICIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading Here she sank upon the sand, her frame quivering like an aspen.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading Here she sank upon the sand, her frame quivering like an aspen.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Here she sank upon the sand, her frame quivering like an aspen.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
sobsnounUS /sɑːbz/
plural of “sob” — a dyspneic condition
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
soonestadverbUS /ˈsuːnəst/
with the least delay
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
swooningadjectiveUS /ˈswuːnɪŋ/
weak and likely to lose consciousness
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
terrorsnounUS /ˈterərz/
plural of “terror” — an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
a shaky motion
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
unnervedadjectiveUS /ənˈnɜːrvd/
deprived of courage and strength
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Exhausted by the previous terrors of the night, this last experience completely unnerved her--she seemed upon the point of swooning.
in a violent manner
From this reading With a cry of terror Patricia seized and clung to Landless's arm, trembling violently, and with her breath coming in long, gasping sobs.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
in the company of; together with
From this reading LANDLESS AND PATRICIA For one moment the parties to this midnight encounter stared at each other with starting eyeballs; the next, down came the curtain of darkness between them.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Divining what would soonest calm her, Landless hurried her out of the wood and down the shore to the bank, beneath which lay the sleeping slaves.
