adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was not a rustle in the tree-tops, not a sound to break the stillness.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
anticipationnounUS /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/
an expectation
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
ArcticnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/
the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
astonishverbUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃ/
affect with wonder
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
breakverbUS /breɪk/
terminate
From this reading There was not a rustle in the tree-tops, not a sound to break the stillness.
breathnounUS /breθ/
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
ceasedverbUS /siːst/
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
clubnounUS /klʌb/
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The wind had dropped dead.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading The wind had dropped dead.
effectnounUS /ɪˈfekt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
grippingadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
impressverbUS /ˌɪmˈpres/
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
listeningnounUS /ˈlɪsənɪŋ/
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
MinoradjectiveUS /ˈmaɪnər/
of lesser importance or stature or rank
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not a rustle in the tree-tops, not a sound to break the stillness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
phenomenonnounUS /fəˈnɑːmənɑːn/
any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
PhilipnounUS /ˈfɪləp/
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
rustleverbUS /ˈrʌsəl/
make a dry crackling sound
From this reading There was not a rustle in the tree-tops, not a sound to break the stillness.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
sensesnounUS /ˈsensɪz/
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
snownounUS /snoʊ/
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There was not a rustle in the tree-tops, not a sound to break the stillness.
soundsnounUS /saʊndz/
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading There was not a rustle in the tree-tops, not a sound to break the stillness.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
stormverbUS /stɔːrm/
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Minor sounds began to impress themselves on his senses--the soft murmur of the falling snow, his own breath, the pounding of his heart.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not a rustle in the tree-tops, not a sound to break the stillness.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
tree-tops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not a rustle in the tree-tops, not a sound to break the stillness.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The wind had dropped dead.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It seemed to Philip, as he stood with the club ready in his hand, that the world had ceased to breathe in its anticipation of the thing for which he was waiting--and listening.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading The silence, so close after storm, was an Arctic phenomenon which did not astonish him, and yet the effect of it was almost painfully gripping.
