used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
(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 That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
attorney'snounUS /əˈtɜːrniz/
possessive form of “attorney” — a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
Blackburn's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
BobbynounUS /ˈbɑːbi/
an informal term for a British policeman
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
BOBBY'SnounUS /ˈbɑːbiz/
possessive form of “bobby” — an informal term for a British policeman
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
casket's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
cemeterynounUS /ˈseməteri/
a tract of land used for burials
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
districtnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
embellishments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
divisible by two
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
apart from; not including
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
brought together in one place
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
impossibilitynounUS /ˌɪmpɔːsɪˈbɪlɪti/
incapability of existing or occurring
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
imprisonedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənd/
being in captivity
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
liningsnounUS /ˈlaɪnɪŋz/
plural of “lining” — a protective covering that protects an inside surface
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
meaninglessadjectiveUS /ˈmiːnɪŋləs/
having no meaning or direction or purpose
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
occupantnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənt/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
reanimatedadjective
given fresh life or vigor or spirit
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
screwsnounUS /skruːz/
plural of “screw” — someone who guards prisoners
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading The lamp, shaking in the district attorney's hand, illuminated each detail of the casket's interior linings.
Silas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
silkenadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlkən/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
snow-swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
sparknounUS /spɑːrk/
a momentary flash of light
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
unoccupiedadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːkjəpaɪd/
not held or filled or in use
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
VIGILnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəl/
a period of sleeplessness
From this reading BOBBY'S VIGIL IN THE ABANDONED ROOM For a long time the little group gathered in the snow-swept cemetery remained silent.
voidadjectiveUS /vɔɪd/
lacking any legal or binding force
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bobby tried to realize that, except for these meaningless embellishments, the box was empty.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That was what held them all--the void, the unoccupied silken couch in which they had seen Silas Blackburn's body imprisoned.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the screws which the detective had removed, and the mass of earth, packed down and covered with snow, must have made escape a dreadful impossibility even if the spark of life had reanimated its occupant.
