AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
actualadjectiveUS /ˈæktʃəwəl/
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
athletenounUS /ˈæθliːt/
a person trained to compete in sports
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading He felt the cold perspiration start over his body.
Bonner's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
bordernounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
boughnounUS /baʊ/
any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
cabinnounUS /ˈkæbən/
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading He felt the cold perspiration start over his body.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
direadjectiveUS /daɪr/
fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
dirgenounUS /dɜːrdʒ/
a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
earsnounUS /ɪrz/
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading His nerves grew tense with trepidation, his eyes wide with horror.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt the cold perspiration start over his body.
flattenedadjectiveUS /ˈflætənd/
having been flattened
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
frameverbUS /freɪm/
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading His nerves grew tense with trepidation, his eyes wide with horror.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt the cold perspiration start over his body.
heartbreakingadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrtbreɪkɪŋ/
causing or marked by grief or anguish
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
highadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
horrornounUS /ˈhɔːrər/
intense and profound fear
From this reading His nerves grew tense with trepidation, his eyes wide with horror.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
moansnounUS /moʊnz/
plural of “moan” — an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
moonnounUS /muːn/
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
nervesnounUS /nɜːrvz/
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading His nerves grew tense with trepidation, his eyes wide with horror.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
orchestranounUS /ˈɔːrkəstrə/
a musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He felt the cold perspiration start over his body.
painnounUS /peɪn/
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
perspirationnounUS /ˌpɜːrspərˈeɪʃən/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading He felt the cold perspiration start over his body.
playedadjectiveUS /pleɪd/
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
sentnounUS /sent/
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
sepulchraladjective
of or relating to a sepulchre
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
seriesnounUS /ˈsɪriz/
similar things placed in order or happening one after another
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
shadowsnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
shriekedadjectiveUS /ʃriːkt/
uttered in a shrill scream as of pain or terror
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/
shake, as from cold
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
sicklyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪkli/
unhealthy looking
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
skeletonnounUS /ˈskelətən/
something reduced to its minimal form
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
startverbUS /stɑːrt/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He felt the cold perspiration start over his body.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
swampverbUS /swɑːmp/
drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading His nerves grew tense with trepidation, his eyes wide with horror.
terrornounUS /ˈterər/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
threwverbUS /θruː/
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
ThroughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
Trap-Door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
treetopsnounUS /ˈtriːtɔːps/
plural of “treetop” — the upper branches and leaves of a tree or other plant
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
trepidationnounUS /ˌtrepɪˈdeɪʃən/
a feeling of alarm or dread
From this reading His nerves grew tense with trepidation, his eyes wide with horror.
uglyadjectiveUS /ˈʌɡli/
displeasing to the senses
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
undergrowthnounUS /ˈʌndərɡroʊθ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
vagueadjectiveUS /veɪɡ/
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading His nerves grew tense with trepidation, his eyes wide with horror.
willow-lined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Trap-Door A sickly new moon threw vague ghostly beams across the willow-lined swamp, out beyond the little cabin that stood on its border.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Through the dense undergrowth and high among the skeleton treetops ugly shadows played with each other, while a sepulchral orchestra of wind and bough shrieked a dirge that flattened in Bonner's ears; but it was not the weird music of the swamp that sent the shudder of actual terror through the frame of the big athlete.
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A series of muffled, heartbreaking moans, like those of a woman in dire pain, came to his ears.
