used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
BEAUTY-KILLER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
Dupont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector and Monsieur Dupont joined them.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
GuidedadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdəd/
subject to guidance or control especially after launching
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
inspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading The inspector and Monsieur Dupont joined them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading The inspector and Monsieur Dupont joined them.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
the force of workers available
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading The inspector and Monsieur Dupont joined them.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
rivetted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
move hurridly
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The inspector and Monsieur Dupont joined them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Guided by the sounds in front of them, they dashed across the garden at the top of their speed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was strongly rivetted, and must have been at least ten feet high.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading A black wall of earth loomed up before them, like the rising of a gigantic wave.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading THE BEAUTY-KILLER Four more figures dashed out through the curtains--two women and two men.
