used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A match flickered on his fingers.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What have you dropped?” asked the voice.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading The mysterious one had reappeared in the doorway.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading “What have you dropped?” asked the voice.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading A match flickered on his fingers.
flickeredverbUS /ˈflɪkərd/
past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading A match flickered on his fingers.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
fumblingadjectiveUS /ˈfʌmbəlɪŋ/
showing lack of skill or aptitude
From this reading He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The mysterious one had reappeared in the doorway.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “What have you dropped?” asked the voice.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The mysterious one had reappeared in the doorway.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
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 He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
kneltverbUS /nelt/
inflected form of “kneel” — rest one's weight on one's knees
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading A match flickered on his fingers.
of an obscure nature
From this reading The mysterious one had reappeared in the doorway.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The mysterious one had reappeared in the doorway.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
with speed
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
reappearedverbUS /ˌriːəˈpɪrd/
past form of “reappear” — appear again
From this reading The mysterious one had reappeared in the doorway.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
unknown's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “What have you dropped?” asked the voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was down upon his knees, fumbling on the ground.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What have you dropped?” asked the voice.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading He looked quickly up, hoping to see the unknown’s face; but the match was blown out instantly by the strong wind that was pressing and fluttering about him as he knelt.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What have you dropped?” asked the voice.
