used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a moment there was an acute, terrible silence.
acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/
having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
From this reading For a moment there was an acute, terrible silence.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading For Wimp, alone, the painted face had fuller, more tragical, meanings.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For a moment there was an acute, terrible silence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading It was a horrible contrast.
corpsenounUS /kɔːrps/
the dead body of a human being
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
doomverbUS /duːm/
decree or designate beforehand
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
opinion or judgment
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment there was an acute, terrible silence.
fullernounUS /ˈfʊlər/
United States jurist and chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1833-1910)
From this reading For Wimp, alone, the painted face had fuller, more tragical, meanings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For Wimp, alone, the painted face had fuller, more tragical, meanings.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
provoking horror
From this reading It was a horrible contrast.
huesnounUS /hjuːz/
plural of “hue” — the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a horrible contrast.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
lightningsnounUS /ˈlaɪtnɪŋz/
plural of “lightning” — abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
meaningsnounUS /ˈmiːnɪŋz/
plural of “meaning” — the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading For Wimp, alone, the painted face had fuller, more tragical, meanings.
menaceverbUS /ˈmenəs/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment there was an acute, terrible silence.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For Wimp, alone, the painted face had fuller, more tragical, meanings.
Mortlake's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
onlookersnounUS /ˈɔːnlʊkərz/
plural of “onlooker” — someone who looks on
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
overstrungadjective
being in a tense state
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
coated with paint
From this reading For Wimp, alone, the painted face had fuller, more tragical, meanings.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For a moment there was an acute, terrible silence.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading For a moment there was an acute, terrible silence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For a moment there was an acute, terrible silence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the overstrung nerves of the onlookers, the brooding eyes of the picture seemed sad and stern with menace, and charged with the lightnings of doom.
tragicaladjective
very sad; especially involving grief or death or destruction
From this reading For Wimp, alone, the painted face had fuller, more tragical, meanings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For a moment there was an acute, terrible silence.
WimpnounUS /wɪmp/
a person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy
From this reading For Wimp, alone, the painted face had fuller, more tragical, meanings.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mortlake's face was that of a corpse; the face of the dead man at his side was flushed with the hues of life.
