used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
anew
From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
Bathurst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bathurst.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
colonynounUS /ˈkɑːləni/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
convulsionsnounUS /kənˈvʌlʃənz/
plural of “convulsion” — a sudden uncontrollable attack
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
demonstratedadjectiveUS /ˈdemənstreɪtɪd/
having been demonstrated or verified beyond doubt
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
eruptionsnounUS /ˌiːˈrʌpʃənz/
plural of “eruption” — the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic material
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
frequentverbUS /ˈfriːkwənt/
do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
Hobson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
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 He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
not in physical motion
From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
on one occasion
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
and nothing more
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
on the contrary
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
reboundverbUS /riˈbaʊnd/
spring back; spring away from an impact
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
the quality of being significant
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
suspensenounUS /səˈspens/
apprehension about what is going to happen
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
in the direction of
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
upheavalnounUS /əpˈhiːvəl/
a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally)
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
verticaladjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrtɪkəl/
at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
volcanicadjectiveUS /vɑːlˈkænɪk/
relating to or produced by or consisting of volcanoes
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
(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 Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
