used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
accursedadjectiveUS /ˌæˈkɜːrst/
under a curse
From this reading "Damn you, you accursed murderer!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
DamnadjectiveUS /dæm/
used as expletives
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
opinion or judgment
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading You tell me that you murdered my father--and you sit there and laugh.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
flickeredverbUS /ˈflɪkərd/
past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
furrowedadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːroʊd/
having long narrow shallow depressions (as grooves or wrinkles) in the surface
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
grotesqueadjectiveUS /ɡroʊˈtesk/
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
gun-shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
Harley's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
hearersnounUS /ˈhiːrərz/
plural of “hearer” — someone who listens attentively
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
the sound of laughing
From this reading You tell me that you murdered my father--and you sit there and laugh.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
maskverbUS /mæsk/
hide under a false appearance
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You tell me that you murdered my father--and you sit there and laugh.
moistenedverbUS /ˈmɔɪsənd/
past form of “moisten” — make moist
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
not in physical motion
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
murderedadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərd/
killed unlawfully
From this reading You tell me that you murdered my father--and you sit there and laugh.
murderernounUS /ˈmɜːrdərər/
a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
From this reading "Damn you, you accursed murderer!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading You tell me that you murdered my father--and you sit there and laugh.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
narrowedadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊd/
reduced in size as by squeezing together
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
reddenedadjective
(especially of the face) reddened or suffused with or as if with blood from emotion or exertion
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
be seated
From this reading You tell me that you murdered my father--and you sit there and laugh.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
stainnounUS /steɪn/
a soiled or discolored appearance
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
stiffenedverbUS /ˈstɪfənd/
past form of “stiffen” — become stiff or stiffer
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
express in words
From this reading You tell me that you murdered my father--and you sit there and laugh.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The strong fingers closed so desperately that the nails furrowed the skin of his palms and came away with a stain of red.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading THE DEATH OF THE CURSE Jim Harley's face twisted and stiffened like a grotesque and hideous mask; his honest eyes narrowed and reddened; for a little while he stood there, motionless as a figure of wood; then his tongue flickered out and moistened his dry lips, and the fingers of his big hands opened and closed several times.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Damn you!" he cried, in a voice so terrible and unnatural that it startled his hearers like a gun-shot in the small room.
