used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
next to; at the side of
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
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 THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
breaking-point
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
BuckverbUS /bʌk/
to strive with determination
From this reading "Buck!" she sobbed.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not surprise her.
distancesnounUS /ˈdɪstənsəz/
plural of “distance” — the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It did not surprise her.
hoarseadjectiveUS /hɔːrs/
deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not surprise her.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
LynchverbUS /lɪntʃ/
kill without legal sanction
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
and nothing more
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
mildestadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪldəst/
superlative of “mild” — moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not surprise her.
numbedverbUS /nʌmd/
past form of “numb” — make numb or insensitive
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
and nothing more
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
penetratedverbUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪd/
past form of “penetrate” — pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
with speed
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
revolver-shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
sobbedverbUS /sɑːbd/
inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively
From this reading "Buck!" she sobbed.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
Stratton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading It did not surprise her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
toppledverbUS /ˈtɑːpəld/
past form of “topple” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
VaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading THE DEAD HEART Vaguely, as of a sound coming from far distances, the crack of a revolver-shot penetrated to the girl's numbed brain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
at the time that
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
belonging to which person
From this reading Indeed, it roused only a feeling of the mildest curiosity in one whose nerves had been strained almost to the breaking-point.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Lynch, with a hoarse cry, toppled back against her, she merely stepped quickly to one side, and an instant later she was on her knees beside Stratton.
