used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
quickly and without warning
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
react verbally
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
crescendonounUS /krɪˈʃendoʊ/
(music) a gradual increase in loudness
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
discordantadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɔːrdənt/
not in agreement or harmony
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
ELUSIVEadjectiveUS /ɪˈluːsɪv/
difficult to describe
From this reading THE ELUSIVE MR.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading "Helen!" shouted The Phantom.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE ELUSIVE MR.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
not any; not one
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
a human being
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
PhantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
compacted by ironing
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
receivernounUS /rəˈsiːvər/
set that receives radio or tv signals
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
SHEI
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading "Helen!" shouted The Phantom.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
SpasmodicallyadverbUS /spæzˈmɔːdɪkli/
with spasms
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ELUSIVE MR.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
thudverbUS /θʌd/
make a dull sound
From this reading No answer came; nothing but a muffled thud that sounded as if the person at the other end had suddenly dropped the receiver.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SHEI Spasmodically The Gray Phantom pressed the receiver closer to his ear.
twangverbUS /twɑːŋ/
cause to sound with a twang
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading The laughter at the other end of the wire rose to a shrill crescendo, then ended abruptly in a harsh and discordant twang.
