used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
AbyssnounUS /əˈbɪs/
a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
automaticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control
From this reading I gripped my automatic and waited tensely.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading I shivered and the strange spell of the mountain and the desert fell heavier upon me.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading I shivered and the strange spell of the mountain and the desert fell heavier upon me.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading I gripped my automatic and waited tensely.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
heavieradjectiveUS /ˈheviər/
comparative of “heavy” — of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading I shivered and the strange spell of the mountain and the desert fell heavier upon me.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
hissverbUS /hɪs/
make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
infinitelyadverbUS /ˈɪnfənətli/
without bounds
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
set afire or burning
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I shivered and the strange spell of the mountain and the desert fell heavier upon me.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading I shivered and the strange spell of the mountain and the desert fell heavier upon me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I gripped my automatic and waited tensely.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
powerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərləs/
lacking power
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
on the contrary
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
shiveredverbUS /ˈʃɪvərd/
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading I shivered and the strange spell of the mountain and the desert fell heavier upon me.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading I shivered and the strange spell of the mountain and the desert fell heavier upon me.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading I shivered and the strange spell of the mountain and the desert fell heavier upon me.
tenselyadverbUS /ˈtensli/
in a tense manner
From this reading I gripped my automatic and waited tensely.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
Terror-light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I shivered and the strange spell of the mountain and the desert fell heavier upon me.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading I gripped my automatic and waited tensely.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading I wanted to go out and investigate; but unfamiliar terror held me powerless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then the cloth of the tent was lighted by a faint red glow thrown on it from above.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading The Abyss of the Terror-light First I heard a faint whispering sound, or rather a hiss, infinitely far away, and up, I thought, over the cliffs.
