used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a moment both men stood breathless, stupefied.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
blanklyadverbUS /ˈblæŋkli/
in a blank and uncomprehending manner
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
the two together, not just one
From this reading For a moment both men stood breathless, stupefied.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading For a moment both men stood breathless, stupefied.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
deliriumnounUS /dɪˈlɪriəm/
state of violent mental agitation
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
FILESnounUS /faɪlz/
plural of “file” — a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together
From this reading SEARCHING THE FILES Seventy-five years!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment both men stood breathless, stupefied.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
groannounUS /ɡroʊn/
an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
to a considerable degree
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
Kearns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
the force of workers available
From this reading For a moment both men stood breathless, stupefied.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment both men stood breathless, stupefied.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading SEARCHING THE FILES Seventy-five years!
Seventy-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈsevəntifaɪv/
being five more than seventy
From this reading SEARCHING THE FILES Seventy-five years!
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
stifledadjectiveUS /ˈstaɪfəld/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For a moment both men stood breathless, stupefied.
stupefiedadjective
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading For a moment both men stood breathless, stupefied.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SEARCHING THE FILES Seventy-five years!
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Professor stared blankly at the speaker, then put both hands to his face and dropped back in his chair.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
vagarynounUS /ˈveɪɡəri/
an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.)
From this reading Was this some grim and ghastly joke; some hideous vagary of delirium, or the night?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A groan was stifled upon Kearns’ lips and he leaned heavily upon the table for support.
a late time of life
From this reading SEARCHING THE FILES Seventy-five years!
