used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
react verbally
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
chillingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪlɪŋ/
provoking fear terror
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
divisible by two
From this reading The niche was smaller even than he had thought.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The niche was smaller even than he had thought.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The niche was smaller even than he had thought.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading When were they hidden here?
not accessible to view
From this reading When were they hidden here?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
jeansnounUS /dʒiːnz/
(used in the plural) close-fitting trousers of heavy denim for manual work or casual wear
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
ladenadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdən/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
not able to be found
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
nichenounUS /nɪtʃ/
a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it
From this reading The niche was smaller even than he had thought.
not any; not one
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
and nothing more
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
paintverbUS /peɪnt/
make a painting
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
by chance
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
relicsnounUS /ˈrelɪks/
plural of “relic” — an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
cut with a saw
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading His quick imagination could answer, could paint the scene in every minute detail.
skulkingnounUS /ˈskʌlkɪŋ/
evading duty or work by pretending to be incapacitated
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading The niche was smaller even than he had thought.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
subterraneanadjectiveUS /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/
Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The niche was smaller even than he had thought.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The niche was smaller even than he had thought.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When were they hidden here?
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The niche was smaller even than he had thought.
unrolledverbUS /ˌʌnˈroʊld/
past form of “unroll” — reverse the winding or twisting of
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The niche was smaller even than he had thought.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
at the time that
From this reading When were they hidden here?
a Caucasian
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He saw the skulking, guilty creature coming down the gorge laden with these garments, warm then from the form chilling fast, perhaps, in some icy subterranean current.
woolnounUS /wʊl/
a fabric made from the hair of sheep
From this reading There were no ghastly relics, no bones, no hair; only a man’s hat and coat, quite fresh and well preserved,—the usual jeans coat, the white wool hat common in the mountains; but as he unrolled them, there was some vague air about them that was familiar, and he knew them for the missing man’s.
