used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
ALICE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALICE PASSES THROUGH THE DOOR OF DEATH.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading ALICE PASSES THROUGH THE DOOR OF DEATH.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading ALICE PASSES THROUGH THE DOOR OF DEATH.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
opinion or judgment
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
brought together in one place
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading What then had happened to Alice?
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
come to pass
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading What then had happened to Alice?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
and nothing more
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
become covered with mist
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
not any; not one
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ALICE PASSES THROUGH THE DOOR OF DEATH.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
PASSESnounUS /ˈpæsəz/
plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
From this reading ALICE PASSES THROUGH THE DOOR OF DEATH.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ALICE PASSES THROUGH THE DOOR OF DEATH.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading What then had happened to Alice?
thicklyadverbUS /ˈθɪkli/
spoken with poor articulation as if with a thick tongue
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading ALICE PASSES THROUGH THE DOOR OF DEATH.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What then had happened to Alice?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading No doubt she had been closely watched previous to this by sharp eyes peering out of the mist.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What then had happened to Alice?
at the time that
From this reading Alice stood watching the box, never thinking of danger, when suddenly a cloth of some sort was thrown over her head from behind, and by a strong hand gathered in about her throat.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading What did happen never could have happened but for the fog, which it will be remembered blew in more thickly just about the time she disappeared.
