used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
aguenounUS /ˈeɪɡjuː/
a fit of shivering or shaking
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
convulsing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
a female human offspring
From this reading Was his daughter going to die?
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Was his daughter going to die?
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
divisible by two
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
exertionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/
use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She could not die--God would not take her from him!
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading She could not die--God would not take her from him!
the act of departing
From this reading Was his daughter going to die?
GravesnounUS /ɡreɪvz/
English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She could not die--God would not take her from him!
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not die--God would not take her from him!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
pantedverbUS /ˈpæntɪd/
past form of “pant” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
stungadjectiveUS /stʌŋ/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
carry out
From this reading She could not die--God would not take her from him!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Was his daughter going to die?
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading He could see, even through the dim shadows, how thin she had become, how she panted for breath over the slight exertion of walking up the hill.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was his daughter going to die?
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Minister Graves watched his child painfully climb the front steps.
whipverbUS /wɪp/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading A thought that stung him like a whip seized him, convulsing his heart and shaking his powerful frame as if he had been attacked by sudden ague.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She could not die--God would not take her from him!
