Chapter XII · The Storm

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

past form of “abate” — make less active or intense

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

in addition

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

comparative of “black” — being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

of surpassing excellence

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

make calm or still

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

plural of “elephant” — five-toed pachyderm

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

comparative of “fierce” — marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

provided with artificial light

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

horrible in fierceness or savagery

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

a particular point in time

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

and nothing more

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

on the contrary

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

a loud low dull continuous noise

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

a hunt for game carried on by following it stealthily or waiting in ambush

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

(poetic) tranquil silence

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading So absorbed had Enola and Onrai been in their talk that the storm had been forgotten for the moment.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

move fast, noisily, and heavily

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

create by training and teaching

From this reading But as Onrai spoke, a rumbling was heard, not like distant thunder, but less distinct, like the rattling of a distant railway train, the sound being regular but growing louder each moment.

up to a particular time

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But it had not abated but had rather grown fiercer and blacker, until now it was so dark that objects only a short distance away could not be seen.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading But the wind had died down to almost a calm a few moments before, and nothing had broken the stillness of the night but the sharp peals of thunder which would follow the brilliant lightning.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.

plural of “zebra” — any of several fleet black-and-white striped African equines

From this reading The elephants could be heard stalking through the garden, and occasionally their huge bodies and also the zebras would be lit up by the lurid lightning.