used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading SO MANY WORLDS AWAY....
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But was his past somehow linked with other worlds?...
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
dimensionnounUS /dɪˈmenʃən/
the magnitude of something in a particular direction (especially length or width or height)
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But was his past somehow linked with other worlds?...
HorningverbUS /ˈhɔːrnɪŋ/
-ing form of “horn” — stab or pierce with a horn or tusk
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
Horning's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
kinksnounUS /kɪŋks/
plural of “kink” — a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/
a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
immediately past
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
linkedadjectiveUS /lɪŋkt/
connected by a link, as railway cars or trailer trucks
From this reading But was his past somehow linked with other worlds?...
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading SO MANY WORLDS AWAY....
joined in matrimony
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But was his past somehow linked with other worlds?...
the time that has elapsed
From this reading But was his past somehow linked with other worlds?...
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
screwedverbUS /skruːd/
past form of “screw” — have sexual intercourse with
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
shruggedverbUS /ʃrʌɡd/
inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading SO MANY WORLDS AWAY....
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading But was his past somehow linked with other worlds?...
that is looked for
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
straightenedverbUS /ˈstreɪtənd/
past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
unbearableadjectiveUS /ənˈberəbəl/
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
wadverbUS /wɑːd/
compress into a wad
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Horning's married life was unbearable so he sought peace in another dimension.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
at the time that
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
windowless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was nearly four o'clock in the windowless basement laboratory when Horning screwed tight the last connection.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading He straightened, shrugged the kinks from his back and shoulders, and wiped his hands clean on a wad of waste.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But was his past somehow linked with other worlds?...
WORLDSnounUS /wɜːrldz/
plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading SO MANY WORLDS AWAY....
