used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
characterizesverbUS /ˈkerəktəraɪzəz/
third-person singular of “characterize” — describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
edgedadjectiveUS /edʒd/
having a specified kind of border or edge
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
at any time
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
grippedverbUS /ɡrɪpt/
inflected form of “grip” — hold fast or firmly
From this reading It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
insinuatingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪnjuːeɪtɪŋ/
calculated to please or gain favor
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
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 It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
the sound of laughing
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
for more time
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
madmannounUS /ˈmædmæn/
an insane person
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
a particular point in time
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "MR.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
pillarnounUS /ˈpɪlər/
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
SHEI
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
sibilantnoun
a consonant characterized by a hissing sound (like s or sh)
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SHEI" For a moment longer she leaned against the pillar.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
twangverbUS /twɑːŋ/
cause to sound with a twang
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then she heard laughter--laughter that was low and sibilant and edged with the insinuating twang that sometimes characterizes the laughter of a madman.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It gripped and shook her, and she knew instinctively that it came from the woman in the rear.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was soft and gentle, yet she thought it was the most fearful sound she had ever heard.
