used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
adventurersnounUS /ædˈventʃərərz/
plural of “adventurer” — a person who enjoys taking risks
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But my problem--one sufficient to wrack every fibre of my brain--was, what were they after?
anew
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
(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 RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
Baxter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading But my problem--one sufficient to wrack every fibre of my brain--was, what were they after?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
without doubt or question
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
compatriotsnounUS /kəmˈpeɪtriəts/
plural of “compatriot” — a person from your own country
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
conferencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfərəns/
a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
the first light of day
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
druggedadjectiveUS /drʌɡd/
under the influence of narcotics
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading But my problem--one sufficient to wrack every fibre of my brain--was, what were they after?
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
fibrenounUS /ˈfaɪbər/
a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn
From this reading But my problem--one sufficient to wrack every fibre of my brain--was, what were they after?
flamboyantadjectiveUS /flæmˈbɔɪənt/
marked by ostentation but often tasteless
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
FrenchmannounUS /ˈfrentʃmæn/
a person of French nationality
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
furiousadjectiveUS /ˈfjʊriəs/
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
galleynounUS /ˈɡæli/
a large medieval vessel with a single deck propelled by sails and oars with guns at stern and prow; a complement of 1,000 men; used mainly in the Mediterranean for war and trading
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
a man of refinement
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
the act of retaining something
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
lappingnounUS /ˈlæpɪŋ/
covering with a design in which one element covers a part of another (as with tiles or shingles)
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
a particular point in time
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But my problem--one sufficient to wrack every fibre of my brain--was, what were they after?
To move from a closed position.
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
arrange in a container
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading But my problem--one sufficient to wrack every fibre of my brain--was, what were they after?
pyjamas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
RavenverbUS /ˈreɪvən/
obtain or seize by violence
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
repairedverbUS /rɪˈperd/
past form of “repair” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
snowflakesnounUS /ˈsnoʊfleɪks/
plural of “snowflake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
soundlyadverbUS /ˈsaʊndli/
deeply or completely
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading But my problem--one sufficient to wrack every fibre of my brain--was, what were they after?
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
thumpverbUS /θʌmp/
move rhythmically
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
unholyadjectiveUS /ənˈhoʊli/
not hallowed or consecrated
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading RED DAWN I heard steps, soft as snowflakes, go along the deck above me; for an instant they paused by the open door at the head of my stairway; then they went on again and all was silent as before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But my problem--one sufficient to wrack every fibre of my brain--was, what were they after?
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
which person or people
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The Chinese gentleman in the flamboyant pyjamas had without doubt, repaired to his compatriots in the galley, forward: at that moment they were, of course, holding some unholy conference.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Clearly, whatever else it might mean, if Baxter and the Frenchman were, as I surely believed them to be, soundly drugged, Miss Raven and I were at the positive mercy of a pack of Chinese adventurers who would probably stick at nothing.
wracknounUS /ræk/
dried seaweed especially that cast ashore
From this reading But my problem--one sufficient to wrack every fibre of my brain--was, what were they after?
yawlnoun
a ship's small boat (usually rowed by 4 or 6 oars)
From this reading But in that silence, above the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the yawl, I heard the furious thumping of my own heart--and I did not wonder at it, nor was I then, nor am I now ashamed of the fear that made it thump.
