used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "They were in constant motion about me.
having companions or an escort
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
in actual fact
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
any thing at all
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
articulateverbUS /ɑːrˈtɪkjəleɪt/
provide with a joint
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
BeingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
ceaselessadjectiveUS /ˈsiːslɪs/
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
circledverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəld/
past form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
unvarying in nature
From this reading "They were in constant motion about me.
without stop or interruption
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
at any time
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
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 They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
impelledadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpeld/
urged or forced to action through moral pressure
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
deeply or markedly affected or influenced
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "They were in constant motion about me.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
and nothing more
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "They were in constant motion about me.
a particular point in time
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
used to form the superlative
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading "They were in constant motion about me.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
not any; not one
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
sighingverbUS /ˈsaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "They were in constant motion about me.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
arousing affect
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
tremendousadjectiveUS /trəˈmendəs/
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
vibratingverbUS /ˈvaɪbreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “vibrate” — shake, quiver, or throb; move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "They were in constant motion about me.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading To my intense relief, however, I heard no distinct words, and the noise continued more like the rising and falling of the wind than anything else I can imagine.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "But the characteristic of these 'Beings' that impressed me most strongly at the time, and of which I have carried away the most permanent recollection, was that each one of them possessed what seemed to be a _vibrating centre_ which impelled it with tremendous force and caused a rapid whirling motion of the atmosphere as it passed me.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Especially in the air just over my head there seemed ceaseless movement, and it was accompanied by a confused noise of whispering and sighing that threatened every moment to become articulate in words.
but in spite of that
From this reading They stood close to my side; moved behind me; brushed past my shoulder; stirred the hair on my forehead; and circled round me without ever actually touching me, yet always pressing closer and closer.
